(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Amelia', 'last_name' => 'Nutter', 'neighborhood' => 'null', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => 'Asheville', 'state' => 'NC', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 29, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'I would hate for business owners to close their stores so that cars can drive a little faster', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Katie', 'last_name' => 'Murray', 'neighborhood' => 'null', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => '', 'state' => 'null', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 29, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'I live off of Fairview Rd. where two children were killed by simply trying to cross a road, and you\'re trying to clone this dangerous design for Merrimon', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Alex', 'last_name' => 'Deckard', 'neighborhood' => 'null', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => '', 'state' => 'null', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 29, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'I worry if Merrimon is redesigned to allow faster cars more pedestrians will get hurt or even die. I\'d love to see Asheville become a pedestrian-friendly city.', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Emily', 'last_name' => 'Kujawa', 'neighborhood' => 'null', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => 'Asheville', 'state' => 'NC', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 25, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'I am disappointed and extremely concerned by the total lack of engagement with the City of Asheville, the lack of proposed alternatives... bicyclists effectively fending for themselves...', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Aimee', 'last_name' => 'Ellingsen', 'neighborhood' => 'North Asheville Community', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => '', 'state' => 'null', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 28, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'NCDOT should instead be planning for a complete street that increases safety for the many walkers and cyclists...', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Carolina', 'last_name' => 'Allured', 'neighborhood' => 'null', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => 'Asheville', 'state' => 'NC', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 29, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'please remember we the people (who vote) work her, ride here, walk her shop, raise kids etc…', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Chris', 'last_name' => 'Craig', 'neighborhood' => 'Kenilworth', 'street_address' => '4 Bowling Park Rd', 'city' => 'Asheville', 'state' => 'NC', 'zipcode' => '28803', 'comment_date' => 'January 20, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'The proposed plan would increase traffic speeds dangerously, making neighborhood pedestrian and bicycle use more difficult and less likely. ', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Sarah', 'last_name' => 'Fraser', 'neighborhood' => 'null', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => 'Asheville', 'state' => 'NC', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 29, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'These types of changes to the roadway will increase traffic speeds resulting in more accidents and increased danger to pedestrians and cyclists', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Viginia', 'last_name' => 'Bower', 'neighborhood' => 'Kenilworth', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => '', 'state' => 'null', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 17, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'Many bikes use Merrimon, and pedestrians use it at their own risk. Is there no concern for either of these travelers? Even though both have met fateful ends in trying to get down the avenue?', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Michele', 'last_name' => 'Dohse', 'neighborhood' => 'Five Points', 'street_address' => '66 Montview Dr', 'city' => 'Asheville', 'state' => 'NC', 'zipcode' => '28801', 'comment_date' => 'January 20, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'I attended the public meeting on January 8 with a long list of questions, few if any of which were satisfactorily answered. I saw very little that I deemed would “enhance safety.”', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Jen', 'last_name' => 'Woodward', 'neighborhood' => 'Five Points', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => '', 'state' => 'null', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 29, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'It’s apparent that NCDOT did little, if anything at all, to incorporate existing city plans or ... COA ... staff and the corridor community in the development of the current plan...', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Nanci', 'last_name' => 'Flippin', 'neighborhood' => 'North Asheville Community', 'street_address' => '29 Elias Place', 'city' => 'Asheville', 'state' => 'NC', 'zipcode' => '28804', 'comment_date' => 'January 27, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'It makes much more sense for Merrimon to be a "complete" street which provides for vehicular as well as non-motorized traffic and is much more consistent with being part of a neighborhood', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Louise', 'last_name' => 'Anderson', 'neighborhood' => 'Norwood Park', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => '', 'state' => 'null', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 29, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'To be able to speed through a stretch of several blocks doesn\'t serve either people who use the road or neighborhoods', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Jen ', 'last_name' => 'Rhode Ward', 'neighborhood' => 'North Asheville Community', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => '', 'state' => 'null', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 29, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'I hope that a plan to reduce vehicle speeds, and to increase pedestrian / bike safety, will be implemented instead.', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Deborah', 'last_name' => 'Bloom', 'neighborhood' => 'Kenilworth', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => '', 'state' => 'null', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 29, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'I\'m dismayed...a family is being forced out of their house... an access road... passes close to the Clearview Terrace apartments and lets out on Edgewood Knoll... alternate solution been investigated?', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Claudia', 'last_name' => 'Nix', 'neighborhood' => 'Kenilworth', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => 'Asheville', 'state' => 'NC', 'zipcode' => '28803', 'comment_date' => 'January 13, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'The city has been recognized as a bronze level bicycle friendly community and silver level as a pedestrian friendly community.  We are trying to improve these classifications', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Amanda', 'last_name' => 'Lavallee', 'neighborhood' => 'null', 'street_address' => '2 Killian Lane', 'city' => 'Asheville', 'state' => 'NC', 'zipcode' => '28804', 'comment_date' => 'January 29, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'I see young kids walking home ... from school. I see folks weaving from sidewalk to street on bikes, without a clear and safe route to take. I do not think encouraging more cars at a faster speed...', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => '', 'last_name' => '', 'neighborhood' => 'null', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => '', 'state' => 'null', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => false, 'pullquote' => '', 'for_against' => 'For', 'permission_to_publish' => false, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Mary', 'last_name' => 'Johnson', 'neighborhood' => 'Grove Park/Sunset', 'street_address' => '86 Kimberly Knoll Rd', 'city' => 'Asheville', 'state' => 'NC', 'zipcode' => '28804', 'comment_date' => 'January 13, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'I purchased a battery assist bike with two big bike bags several years ago when living in Biltmore Forest. There is almost NOWHERE to bike safely in the city.', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Sarah', 'last_name' => 'Haske', 'neighborhood' => 'null', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => '', 'state' => 'null', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 29, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'Have you ever walked down the sidewalk along Merrimon avenue? ...  There is NO buffer between the sidewalk and the already speeding cars that whizz by...it is terrifying', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => '', 'last_name' => '', 'neighborhood' => 'null', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => '', 'state' => 'null', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 29, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'Make it more bike and pedestrian friendly and there will be less traffic. Lengthen the stop lights so that more people have a chance to get across, and turn left without being hit by a car.

', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'David', 'last_name' => 'Copley', 'neighborhood' => 'null', 'street_address' => '65', 'city' => 'Tacoma Circle', 'state' => 'NC', 'zipcode' => '28801', 'comment_date' => 'January 29, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'Car speeds are going to dramatically increase because the design speed chosen will allow a driver to feel safe at speeds higher than 40 mph. During the public meeting NCDOT confirmed that a 40 mph des', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Keaton', 'last_name' => 'Hill', 'neighborhood' => 'null', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => 'Asheville', 'state' => 'NC', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 28, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'I urge the NCDOT Division 13 to follow existing NCDOT Transportation Policy regarding active transportation, including NCDOT’s Complete Street Policy and offer the public alternatives', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Coalter ', 'last_name' => 'Lathrop', 'neighborhood' => 'Chestnut Hills', 'street_address' => '45 Austin Avenue', 'city' => 'Asheville', 'state' => 'NC', 'zipcode' => '28801', 'comment_date' => 'January 24, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'I write as a motorist, cyclist and pedestrian who lives one block off Merrimon... I also write as a parent of two Asheville City School students who must cross Merrimon every day to access their bus', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Pamela', 'last_name' => 'Cauble', 'neighborhood' => 'North Asheville Community', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => '', 'state' => 'null', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 23, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'Merrimon Avenue does not need to accommodate more cars.  It needs to offer more pedestrian space and safer bicycle traffic. ', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Nancy', 'last_name' => 'Hines', 'neighborhood' => 'null', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => '', 'state' => 'null', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 28, 2018', 'pullquote' => '​The meager  2\'bike ​lanes will also ​be ​part of the gutter! At present Lakeview Park has a poor \'walk score\' of 52. We should improve this, not decrease it.', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Cisco', 'last_name' => 'Pilates', 'neighborhood' => 'Five Points', 'street_address' => '', 'city' => '', 'state' => 'null', 'zipcode' => '', 'comment_date' => 'January 29, 2018', 'pullquote' => '"I cross Merrimon regularly on my bicycle or on foot. It is dangerous already. A pedestrian was killed not far from where I live crossing Merrimon..."', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'David', 'last_name' => 'Novak', 'neighborhood' => 'Norwood Park', 'street_address' => '73 Woodward Ave', 'city' => 'Asheville', 'state' => 'NC', 'zipcode' => '28801', 'comment_date' => 'January 29, 2018', 'pullquote' => '"I am in favor of a 3-lane solution (employing a center turn lane) allowing  ample space for bus turn-outs, regulation width bike lanes, and safe, set back, pedestrian sidewalks..."', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', )

(object) array( 'first_name' => 'Amy', 'last_name' => 'Kemp', 'neighborhood' => 'Chestnut Hills', 'street_address' => '25 North Liberty St', 'state' => 'NC', 'comment_date' => 'January 29, 2018', 'pullquote' => 'Residents living along or near Merrimon Ave deserve safe access to its businesses by any means they choose, whether it be car, bike, or on foot.', 'for_against' => 'Against', 'permission_to_publish' => true, 'event_date' => '', 'city' => 'Asheville', 'zipcode' => '28801', )