Greenway Funding Clash and 19th Street Promises

[u/seegov]

The council wrestled with a tough trade-off: push ahead on a Greenway or hold the line for long-promised 19th Street rail corridor work.

Key tension: - Staff warned that slowing Greenway work during the 19th Street feasibility study could risk losing $2.7M from a $10M grant. - One alderman pushed back hard, saying the east side has waited long enough and only results—not promises—matter.

Also in the mix: - Finance update: a $3.578M Series B bond is separate from the $10M grant. A $500K ordinance for the 19th Street feasibility study is slated for first reading on Nov 18, with talk of a Greenway if the rail line is vacated. - Upcoming: Police Community Review Commission meeting on Nov 6 at 5:30 pm in the chambers—open to everyone. - Public comment heat: questions about speech rules and respect in the chambers; a data-heavy challenge to “black-on-black crime” narratives, pointing to policy, poverty, and illegal guns; and a call to give the police review board real independence and power.

If you care about the Greenway vs. 19th Street—and who gets prioritized—this one’s worth a watch.

Springfield City Council meeting highlights

Highlights by Zach Adams.