During a recent Boulder City Council meeting, community members voiced urgent concerns regarding traffic safety and the impact of hate crimes, highlighting the need for systemic changes and resources to address these issues.

Teela Duham, Chair of the Transportation Advisory Board, opened the discussion with a poignant account of the tragic death of Julianne Herlihy, a 36-year-old cyclist killed at the intersection of Broadway and North Woodhills Highway. Duham emphasized that Herlihy's death could have easily made her the city's fourth traffic-related fatality this year, following a series of incidents involving vulnerable road users, including two children injured in separate incidents just days prior. She called for immediate action to address the systemic problems plaguing Boulder’s roadways, stating, \"Traffic violence is not an abstract rare thing... it is an ongoing source of trauma.\"

Duham expressed gratitude to various council members for their support in advocating for safer roadways, particularly highlighting the collaborative efforts to improve the city's core arterial network. She acknowledged the contributions of Council members Schuhart, Benjamin, Friend, and Speer, as well as city staff, for their dedication to enhancing transportation policies.

The meeting also addressed the rise in hate crimes, with Jennifer Ho, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, sharing resources aimed at combating racism. Ho introduced an anti-racism toolkit developed by her center, which includes a three-week course on Asian American history and identity. She noted the pain expressed by community members regarding the ongoing conflict in Palestine and Gaza, emphasizing the interconnectedness of various marginalized groups, stating, \"Palestinian Americans are Asian Americans.\"

As the meeting progressed, community members continued to advocate for both traffic safety and social justice, underscoring the need for a comprehensive approach to address these pressing issues in Boulder.