I oppose the construction of the First Street Flyover.

This bridge will be detrimental to the economic development of majority low income and Black/Brown communities and will do little to solve the traffic challenges that it intends to address.

Constructing a Flyover through the middle of two Community Redevelopment Agency Districts would be detrimental to the mission statements that encourage redevelopment and elimination of slum and blight in these communities. Additionally, according to the Central Manatee Network Alternatives Analysis, the Flyover will do little to solve the regional traffic problem. 

Therefore, I urge FDOT to reject the construction of this project and search for solutions to the traffic challenges that will not jeopardize economic development of communities that are low income, majority Black/Brown, and in need of investment rather than infrastructure projects that will likely lower property values and jeopardize economic development.