A fence to stop Aurora Bridge suicides

What a shame. A tremendous WASTE of $7.3M. If people want to kill themselves, they will. We should not be wasting taxpayer money for lost souls. I am in public service, and respond to calls for these worthless individuals all of the time. We should not be wasting our hard earned tax dollars on this crap. Yet another example of Governor Gargoyle and Mayor Nickels irresponsible use of funds and Democratic ideas.

I agree with Kameron on the money-angle - the debates go on about the 520 Bridge and the Alaskan Way Viaduct, and now all of a sudden this is a priority? My parents taught me to finish a project before starting another....

Kameron - Worthless individuals? Nice. Hopefully suicide never affects you or your family. Karma!

Why do you think people who jump usually scream on the way down? Do you think they might have changed their minds? Seriously, I agree it's a waste of money and another example of control. If somebody wants to end their life, they should be able to and if we spend millions of dollars preventing them from jumping off a bridge, they'll just find another way or jump off a different bridge. Remember the woman who had traffic stopped for hours because she threatened to jump off the Ship Canal Bridge during the morning rush hour-cry for help or drama queen?

It already has. Both family and numerous friends. If that is the value they put on their life, then it is the same I will place on it. I apologize if it seems harsh.

I lost my brother to this bridge 13 years ago. Since then, my parent's relationship has fallen apart, other members of my family have suffered severe emotional trauma and had a hard time getting their lives back on track. I lucked out, I sought counselling directly after the event and was able to work out my demons. I wish my brother had a prevention mechanisim in place so he might have had the opportunity to think twice about his chosen path.
7.3 million is a lot of money, but a drop in the bucket compared to other kooky projects thought up by this city and state.
For what it's worth, my brother's life and the ensuing tragedy it caused for 1 family, would be well worth the price.
Kameron my thoughts are with you with all the loss and grief provided to you with this bridge over the years.
Wouldn't it be nice to provide these not lost, but pained souls a second chance, even if they don't realize they need it?
Tammi, the eyewitness to my brother's jump heard no screams. After the event, I researched it and a number of jumpers do not, in fact, scream or vocalize. (BTW she [or he-as the person was TG] did not jump)

although I have empathy for your situation Zach, I don't think a huge megaotlithic fence serving as a sign of SUICIDE every time people drive by it is going to prevent tragedies your family / brother experienced. All its saying is "dont kill yourself here" - do it somewhere else. if theres a fence there its pretty fairy tale to think people are going to say "gee - I guess i can't or shouldn't kill myself". they'll just go somewhere else. In the end, it will just be a giant bill board for death - "oh whats that fence? well, 4 people a year kill themselves there each year...so the millions that cross / see this bridge every year get to be hampered and reminded of such tragedies."

what a dumb deal. that would be a giant tatoo - due to 4 people a year - saying SEATTLE IS SUICIDE CAPITAL - its the entree into seattle from the west side...and there you have a HUGE fence around the premier bridge in seattle...

bizarre

I think it is very harsh to say 4 lives a year are not worth our time- I do agree however. What if instead of using it to build a fence to prevent people who want to die kill themselves, we use it to research cures for people who don't want to die from cancer? That would save way more than 4 people a year.
I do feel for friends and family affected by suicide. I think most of know someone who has suceeded if not at least tried to end their life.

All of the research shows that fences actually work to prevent people from dying by suicide. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the US and is equal to a 747 crashing fully loaded every other day. There are actually twice as many police officers who take their own life each year as are killed in the line of duty and it is one of the leading causes of death for youth in their 20's (since it is rare for young people to die).

In DC they put up a fence on one bridge and people didn't shift to another bridge right next to it. If you assume each life is worth say 1 million it is pays for itself in less then a year.

Sometimes on a high ledge I panic, depending on my level of depression that day, and think about jumping, whether it is a bridge or a balcony on a high building. A barrier fence helps alievate the anxiety. If you want purity of architecture that's your shallow decision.

I plan on killing myself via the aurora bridge.

The fence is anything but a bad idea.

Hey, you’re the goto exeprt. Thanks for hanging out here.

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