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Resident urges council to prioritize safety over aesthetics, says voices feel ignored
Summary
Jackie Martin told the council she and other residents feel the council listens to a narrow group and prioritizes cosmetic projects over recurring safety issues, citing an intersection where vehicles do donuts at night.
Jackie Martin, speaking during the public‑comment period, told the Rancho Santa Margarita City Council she has returned to council meetings several times with safety concerns and believes some residents’ voices are not being heard.
Martin said she initially learned the limits of the council’s authority but nonetheless is concerned that recent praise directed at the council has focused on items outside council control while safety problems remain unresolved. She cited a nearby intersection where people perform dangerous vehicle maneuvers at night and said the response was, in her view, the cheapest possible treatment.
Mayor Beal responded during later council remarks, saying the city has been ranked among the safest in California and that the council works closely with the sheriff's department and fire prevention staff. He called the suggestion that the council does not care “simply false” and said the council holds frequent town halls and welcomes all residents to speak.
The council did not take formal action in response to the comment. Martin’s remarks and the mayoral rebuttal highlight tension between some public commenters and the council over perceived prioritization of city projects and safety requests.
