Protesters upset with P Street traffic
ByIevaAugstums
and Josh Funk
Staff writers
The sound of passing motorists
honking in protest of two-way traffic on
P Street on Friday interfered with the
Embassy Suites Hotel groundbreaking
inside Crane River Brewpub and Cafe.
Protesters gathered near 11th and P
streets with petitions and signs asking
motorists to “Honk 4 One-Way.” They
collected about 300 signatures that
morning demanding the return to one
way traffic onP Street
Inside the cafe, 211 P St., Mayor
Mike Johanns and hotel developer John
Q. Hammons dug their silver shovels
into a small box of dirt marking the start
of hotel construction as City Council
members and other officials watched.
“This is a great opportunity to
enhance and cultivate the downtown
community,” Brad Korell, president of
National Bank of Commerce, said. “It’s
only fitting that this block is replaced
with this prominent hotel.”
But that progress has not been wel
comed by everyone.
Signs of protesters outside argued
that “2 way + 2 slow=No Go.”
And about 50 to 80 people showed
up in support of that equation and a
return to one-way traffic.
“We’re here to give them hell,”
protest organizer Jim Wrenholt, a
Lincoln small business owner, said.
The site of the new hotel, Block 35,
located between 10th,! 1th, P and Q
streets, has been central in Lincoln’s his
tory and the protester’s arguments.
It was the city’s founding block in
1860 and has been the site of many
prominent hotels and businesses over
the years, Korell said.
“Traffic on P Street was two-way
and accommodated business quite
well,” he said.
Protesters believe the incoming
hotel influenced the traffic redirection.
“Money talks, and we’re seeing it*
voiced right here,” said Duane
Mischsek, a city campus utility plant
employee.
The change to two-way traffic has
angered many residents who argue lane
reduction causes traffic congestion.
“This change is a waste of taxpayer
money,” Mischsek said. “This is just a
continuing disaster.”
Johanns said he is working to bal
ance the interests of the people with pre
serving Lincoln’s downtown area. The
long-term effects of the hotel will bring
economic activity to a thriving down
town , he said
The City Council decided to change
P Street to two-way traffic in an effort to
connect downtown with the Haymarket
area and make the street more pedestri
an-friendly. Council members also
argue that two-way traffic and more
pedestrians will generate more busi
nesses onP Street
Protesters said they organized their
demonstration Friday morning to coin
cide with the hotel groundbreaking to
attract attention.
“I’m here in support of one-way
traffic,” said Lyn Leach, owner of Ace
Rent-To-Own, 2429 O St “I believe the
hotel is a major reason for the street
change.”
Hammons, who is planning to build
and own the hotel, disagreed.
“We are in the hotel business, not
the street business,” Hammons said.
“Lincoln needed this hotel. We are
studying to make it successful.”
According to campaign finance
reports, Hammons contributed $1,000
to Johanns’ gubernatorial campaign in
August
But Johanns denied any connection
* between the contribution, die hotel con
struction and the street change.
Wrenholt plans to present the peti
% don to die City Council on Monday to
I demand a return to one-way traffic.
; Wrenholt said he received a mixed
response at the last council meeting,
though there was interested in his peti
tion.
“We need people to keep die pres
sure up,” Wrenholt said.
Though a few Bill Hoppner sup
porters were present with the P Street
protesters, Wrenholt emphasized that
the protest was nonpartisan.
Johanns noted the Hoppner sup
porters on the comer and decried the
politics in the protest
“If there was a Johanns sign out
there, I would tell them to move on,”
Johanns said.
Mike Morosin, vice chairman of the
Mayor’s Neighborhood Roundtable,
said he supported Embassy Suites com
ing to Lincoln but is against a two-way P
Street because of the danger and con
gestion he said it creates.
“It’s a dumb way to flow traffic,”
Morosin said. “Angle parking is
extremely dangerous. Not only can you
not see who is coming, you back your
car up ...and stop traffic for blocks.”
Bicyclists are concerned the change
to two-way will be more dangerous.
“I commute daily by bike, and since
the changes, 13d1 Street has become
extremely dangerous,” Mischsek said.
But Johanns blamed the ongoing
construction to convert P Street, which
is scheduled to be completed in mid- to
late November.
He told citizens not to be discour
aged by the P Street conversion.
“Nobody’s feet are stuck in
cement,” he said. “We want to invest in •
people’s future.”
rad the scon is. 4r
The following Is a list of goals ASUN has set, and th« progress It has made.
1. Continue commitment to dvereity through sponsored events and increased
communication with the campus community.
—ASUN Human Rights Committee Chaiman Andy Schuerman said ASUN wfl be waking wife the
UNL chapter of Amnesty Wemalional to hep promote the 50lhannivefsay of the Univereal DedaaBon
cf Human Rights on Dec. 10. Schueiman said from Oct 2M0, Amnesty International^ goal is to colect
5,000 signatijes and send ttiem to Paris to be assembled as part of Ihewortcfs largest book.
2. Maintain regular campuswide community service projects.
- Ryan Anderson, chairman of toe Campus IJb Committee, said ASUNwl work with UNLIs Hatoiat
for Humanly chapter Nov. 7 on the TIU House.’
3. Enhance technologicai services to students.
—Paul Schreier, ASUN Technology Fee Advisory Board member, said student Web services presently
are being qpdated to include onine registration, schedules and grade checks.
4. Research the opfore to make student evaluations more effective.
- ASUN Academic Committee members are meeting wito oolege departments and faculty members
to dtecuss midsemester feedback forms. Kara Slaugta,(X)rrmtteechaimanan,saU the cormtitee
also is taldng wih other Big 12 schools and researching their metoods of professor evaluations.
5. Address campus parking concerns.
- ASUN senators are continuing to research and dscuss parking concerns.
a Continue efforts to unite City and East campuses.
—Anderson said Campus Life and the ASUN Environmental Issues subcommittees are looting into
providng better shuttle andfar bus transportation between City and East campuses.
7. Create a larger representation of students through outreach initiatives.
—ASUN President Sara Russel is contacting student organization presidents asking them to attend
Campus CoaKon meetings. The next meeting is 630 pm Thusdayh the Nebraska Union.
a Raise awareness of the proposed spendng Bd amendment to the Nebraska
Constitution and the immediate effects imposed on UNL and Hs students.
—ASUN is continuing to work wilh Students Against the Lid to promote awareness of Initiative 413, the
proposed tax Id amendment that could cut $20 mion from the NU system's budget
Russel said both grotps are promoting‘Blue to MU’ and are enooiraging Ihe lALcommuniy to wear
blue, instead of red, to the Nebraska vs. Mssouri footbal game Oct 24.
a iobby for student input and concern regarcting the ASUN government party
system.
- Russel’s proposed measure to keep a partisan government system, but remove the isling of paty
names on the election balof, is being decussed by the ASUN Electoral Commission. Ryan Fuchs,
Electoral Commission drector, said tire commission wi present an election proposal to ttie senate in the
next couple of weeks.
1a Work to promote alcohol awareness and education campuswkte.
- Russel is organizing a steering oommltee to he*) wih efforts revolving around the Laura Cockson
Memorial Schotarshp Fund. The commiteewl include the Cockson tamly, ASUN, Gamma Phi Beta
Sororly, University Foundation, Student Foundation and Project CAR.E representatives.
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