rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/tell-city-council-support-bus-stop-benches?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-tell-city-council-support-bus-stop-benches' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> Wilmington DSA https://actionnetwork.org/groups/wilmington-dsa https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/letters/photos/000/453/011/normal/ilmDSA_General_AN_Banner_Small.jpg We invite all concerned residents of Wilmington, NC to tell the Mayor and City Council that they support our bus stop benches and to urge them to do everything in their power to allow current and future bench placement. For more than a year, Wilmington DSA has been working with community members to construct bus stop benches. Using plans from the Chattanooga Urbanist Society, we repurpose perfectly good lumber and recycled paint from the county landfill that has been deemed as trash to make structurally sturdy benches and paint them with beautiful imagery and positive messages that are intended to uplift and educate bus riders and passersby. According to a 2023 Port City Daily article about WAVE Transit’s 5-year plan, only 7% of WAVE’s more than 400 bus stops had amenities including benches, compared to the state average of 18%. Many of those include anti-homeless features, such as bars to prevent folks from lying down. We believe that working class folks using public transit deserve a place to rest while they wait for the bus and since WAVE, who receives federal, county, and city funding, says they don’t have the funds to place benches at more stops, we took it upon ourselves to make it happen, and at no cost to taxpayers. To date, we have placed more than 30 benches at stops around the city, all without the common anti-unhoused design. The response to this project has been overwhelmingly positive. Area residents love the charm and spirit of community the benches represent. Bus riders have told us that it feels good to know that someone cares about them and they are always appreciative of the benches when they spot us placing them. Our benches were recently the subject of a post in a popular Wilmington Facebook group, and despite the majority of supportive comments, following this post we received an email from WAVE officials, citing that several citizens had raised concerns to City Council about the messaging on some of the benches. Additionally, they informed us that we are in violation of city code 11-45 and that the benches will need to be removed. The pre-written letter on the next page outlines what we want City Council to do to keep this project going. We’re not going to allow the City Council to prioritize the opinions of a few outspoken critics over a public good like having a bench to sit on while you wait for the bus. Let our City Council know that you support our benches by signing this letter! https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-city-council-support-bus-stop-benches