Diane Moca: Welcome to Talking Cities Aurora. I'm Diane Moca with today's top headlines in our city. Residents of the Eagle Point neighborhood say the city has not done enough to deter drivers from speeding down their side street, even after a cyclist was hit by a car. Neighbors say the problem started after a stoplight was installed at Normantown and Montgomery Roads because drivers started turning down Tara Belle Parkway to avoid the light. They say as the dangers increased, residents started asking police and city leaders for help back in May 2021. Charlene Brandt: They're speeding. They're blowing stop signs. We're a relatively small neighborhood. We have children from 6:20 in the morning till school starts at the elementary school at 8:45 and 9 o'clock, walking, riding bikes, on the corners, and we have continuously cars speeding. And I am not talking 30 miles per hour. I am talking 60 miles per hour. Thad Murillo: We reached a point when two weeks ago I got hit by a car. 6:00 AM, not a lot of traffic. Diane Moca: Thad Murillo says for months he has been requesting speed bumps, traffic islands, curb extensions, or speeding ticket cameras. But none of those were installed. He says the city conducted two traffic studies last year, and police promised more enforcement, which neighbors say is rare and only lasts a short time, and then ends. After Murillo spoke at the city council meeting, he said the city proposed a radar trailer that displays a driver's speed. He's not sure if that is going to make much of a difference. The city did not reply to our request for comment. The city council approved a controversial reappointment to the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board. Laura Ayala was one of three board members who posed for pictures with the mayor and alderman after they were officially reappointed. Previously, the city's rules administration and procedure committee voted for no recommendation on Ayala. Three residents also spoke against keeping her on that board. Sandi Schmitt: It's public record that on May 24th, 2021, Laura Ayala was arrested at a local business for assaulting a security guard, swearing and yelling at employees, customers, and even the police, all while mentioning that her boyfriend was the mayor. Mayor Irvin is the highest level of authority and power that we have in our city, and as such, should be held to a higher level of standard than everyone else. Matthew Orr: Also taken from the police report was the fact that she appeared to be intoxicated and that her boyfriend overheard the charging information was upset that security placed their hands on her. Nicole Mullins: Not one single person from City Council has so much as acknowledged what she did. You could have easily said, "That's not acceptable, but it's been addressed." But that's not the type of city council we have because alderman don't want to lose favor with the mayor. Diane Moca: Ayala is one of 13 members of the Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board, which plans the annual Fiestas Patrias in River Edge Park. Also, at the recent meeting, Aurora's Mayor and Alderman gave a stirring tribute to honor former mayor Bob O'Connor, who passed away in September. Mayor Richard Irvin: And I learned so much from him by how he lived his life selflessly, intentionally, and for our community. I had the honor to call him friend. He was first elected in 1985. Bob served on the Aurora City Council for 36 years, were practicing law and serving in several volunteer leadership roles in our community. He raised the bar and he set the standard in the legal field and public service. Alderman Emmanuel Llamas: He taught me so much. He was just a great example for a young person coming up like myself, and for really anyone up here on the council. He's who we look to for guidance and he just... I'm very appreciative for everything that he's done for the City of Aurora and for myself personally. Diane Moca: A visitation will be held on Sunday, October 16th from 1 to 7:00 PM at Healy Chapel on Downer Place. And those are today's trending topics. From Talking Cities Aurora, I'm Diane Moca.