Residents urge city action after series of crashes on Cedar Boulevard; council and staff offer to meet

Several Newark residents used the Sept. 11 public comment period to press the council and city staff for safety improvements on Cedar Boulevard, reporting repeated collisions, speeding and one recent crash that caused a vehicle to catch fire and a nearby house to be damaged.

Phil Blocks, who identified himself as a Cedar Boulevard resident, said a vehicle crashed into a home outside his house on Aug. 31 and one occupant escaped a burning vehicle only because a neighbor pulled them out. He urged permanent radar signage, a consistent police presence, edge-line striping and tree trimming at intersections where sightlines are blocked.

Other speakers detailed personal experiences and urged the city to act. Gabriel Anguiano Jr. noted heavy cut-through traffic near several schools and emphasized Safe Routes to School outreach; Carlos Perez described a near-miss involving his wife pulling from a driveway; Sushil and Elias Martinez reported multiple crashes on their block, including a fatal motorcycle collision in prior years; several speakers urged cameras, speed enforcement and physical calming treatments.

Mayor Michael Hannon and city staff acknowledged the comments. The mayor asked the audience to thank a neighbor credited with rescuing a vehicle occupant. City Manager Benun and the city manager’s representative invited the speakers to meet with the public works director and the new city engineer in the lobby after the meeting to discuss potential mitigation options. Staff said they would follow up to discuss potential treatments, and noted that police have monitored the corridor at times.

Councilmembers urged continued engagement with residents and confirmed follow-up; staff committed to arranging a community meeting with public works and engineering to review near-term safety measures and longer-term traffic improvements.