A four-year-old Austin girl’s concerns about the quality of the roads in the city led her and her parent to pen a letter to the mayor, requesting improvements where possible.
The child was complaining to her parent about the state of the roads, which prompted the writing of the letter, asking for a positive change in the community.
"My four year old has been complaining about the state of the roads, so I suggested we write the city. Yesterday she dictated this letter, which is going in the mail today, because it's never too early for civic engagement. @MayorAdler, for your attention,” Dr. Ayelet H. Lushkov posted on Twitter.
The letter, which Ella’s parents helped pen, was straight to the point and age-appropriate, stating her requests.
“Mr. Mayor, please make the roads more smooth. And if you can, add some more buses. Please. I really don’t like how bumpy the roads are. Thank you, I am pleased. -Ella,” the letter read.
After receiving the letter from the young resident, Austin Mayor Steve Adler responded in kind, sharing his plans for the future of the city with the young girl.
"Thank you for your letter, Ella! We already have more buses on the way, and they're even good for the planet. I know the transit department is always working to keep the roads smooth, but if there's anywhere in particular you'd like them to check out, I can pass that along,” Adler wrote.
The City of Austin has received a $1 million grant to help with the Austin Transportation Department, as well as other groups, all aimed at making the city more friendly for transit.
The city plans to implement Mobility Hubs, which will help to connect all types of transportation options, including bikes, car shares and other options for those who want to use private vehicles less.
This sizable grant is thanks to the National Science Foundation’s Civic Innovation Challenge.