[Vision2020] Will the People of Moscow -- and the City--Listen? Sidewalks m

[david sarff]

Yup, I agree Kit.
If as Mike indicated, the majority of the problem is rental properties 
leaving a common laps in servicing the walks. Perhaps the all registered 
business/rentals could be asked to enter a service pool or cooperative and 
other types of property owners could also join but not be required.

I do want to know if the two rights of way are equal. There may be a 
difference. If they are the same. I think that is something to examine.

Dave


>
>I don't know what (or if) there is a legal difference between the two
>right-of-ways. To me, it is a matter of efficiency. I can easily do
>my part to keep the sidewalks safe by shoveling mine (less than a
>minute, no lifting required). Other than having melt-water flow onto
>my space, it doesn't make any difference to my efforts if my next-
>door neighbor doesn't do theirs.
>
>It is a far different story with the street. Speaking from decades of
>experience, it is hard, heavy labor to shovel snow off the road. If I
>clear half-way across the street in front of my house and the
>neighbors next door or across the street don't, vehicles knock snow
>back into the space I've worked so hard on. Furthermore, having a
>clear patch here and there does nothing to help traffic--it just
>creates a bigger mess.
>
>To me, it is more efficient to have the City (which is the body that
>manages our community) buy the necessary machines and do the entire
>street at once while individuals take care of the bit of sidewalk in
>front of their residence.
>
>Kit Craine
>
>On Feb 25, 2007, at 9:41 PM, david sarff wrote:
>
> >
> > Hi Sunil, Linda...
> > Yes, just a little more push is the practical thing to do and would
> > go a
> > long way. I agree that it is the property owners duty.
> > Still, I wonder what the legal difference is between the two right
> > of ways.
> > Streets and sidewalks. If they are the same. That strikes me as
> > unequal
> > balance.
> > Dave
> >
> >> Linda,
> >>
> >> As a defense attorney, it usually goes against my nature to encourage
> >> enforcement or prosecution, but I would like to see some attention
> >> given to
> >> this issue by the Moscow Police Department.
> >>
> >> If half the attention were given to this as is to prosecuting
> >> minors in
> >> possession or consuming alcohol, our sidewalks would be far
> >> safer.  I think
> >> icy sidewalks pose a regular hazard to Moscow's residents and
> >> visitors.  I
> >> certainly commend you for your attention to your own sidewalks,
> >> something
> >> I've often seen and appreciated on my fall and winter strolls to
> >> the Corner
> >> Club to watch Steeler games...
> >>
> >> And we wouldn't necessarily have to prosecute folks; I think most
> >> people
> >> would respond to warnings about their sidewalks.
> >>
> >> Sunil
> >>
> >>
>: Sat, 24 Feb 2007 12:58:40 -0800
> >>>
> >>> Dear Saundra and Visionaries,
> >>>
> >>> Since the letter Lois wrote to me arrived at my e-mail in-box at
> >>> 10:03
> >>> A.M.,
> >>> I was in my office Friday morning and replied at 11:40 A.M..  I'm
> >>> sure
> >> the
> >>> editorial page of the Friday Daily News had probably been put to
> >>> bed the
> >>> day
> >>> before. I think the agendas showing this as a topic of
> >>> consideration for
> >>> Monday's 4:30 P.M. Public Works/Finance Committee meeting came
> >>> out around
> >>> 4:30 P.M. Friday afternoon. (I will be in Missoula on business
> >>> Monday but
> >>> John Weber will chair the meeting and you and everyone are
> >>> welcome to be
> >>> part of this discussion!) I go into all of this to try to
> >>> illustrate that
> >>> one city council member is looking to welcome citizen comment on
> >>> this
> >>> vexing
> >>> matter and believes that we are talking about it improving the
> >>> system.
> >>>
> >>> The basic reality is that, outside of serious criminal laws, most
> >>> of our
> >>> local and state laws are enforced on a complaint-basis. And even
> >>> some of
> >>> those criminal laws on the books are not the subject of regular
> >> enforcement
> >>> actions by the contabulary. Lewd cohabitation (living with someone
> >> without
> >>> benefit of clergy) used to be on the statute books in Idaho and
> >>> perhaps
> >>> still is, though I could not find it is a quick search of the
> >>> Moroccan
> >>> bound
> >>> volumes in my office. I do not recall any Latah County prosecutor
> >>> in my
> >> 34
> >>> years of life in Idaho prosecuting someone under that statute...
> >>>
> >>> Saundra, see my response to Lois below and try to come to the PWF
> >> Committee
> >>> meeting Monday afternoon or tune in on cable if you have it. The
> >>> Mayor
> >> and
> >>> Council are concerned about this and realize how dangerous
> >>> sidewalks can
> >>> cause terrible consequences for anyone but especially for those
> >>> already
> >>> with
> >>> infirmaties. I am a prime example of one who is concerned about
> >>> this, "up
> >>> close and personal!" I try to have my walks maintained during the
> >>> winter
> >>> and
> >>> deeply appreciate those who do.
> >>>
> >>> We are all REALLY trying to do the right thing by the citizens of
> >> Moscow...
> >>>
> >>> All the best to you, Saundra, and to the collected Visionaries,
> >>>
> >>> Linda Pall
> >>> Moscow City Council
> >>>
> >>> BELOW IS LINDA'S RESPONSE (11:40 AM, 2/23/07) TO LOIS BLACKBURN'S
> >>> E-MAIL
> >>> (10:03 AM, 2/23/07):
> >>>
> >>> Dear Lois (I'm going informal no matter what here...),
> >>>
> >>> Thanks for your e-mail. Please be advised that I have asked that the
> >>> discussion of enforcement of our existing city ordinances and other
> >> citizen
> >>> and council ideas regrading this truly important matter be on the
> >>> Public
> >>> Works/Finance Agenda on the Monday, February 26, meeting at 4:30
> >>> P.M. in
> >>> the
> >>> COuncil Chambers. Kit Craine has developed a proposal that is more
> >>> assertive
> >>> than the city's current enforcement stance which relies primarily on
> >>> citizen-initiated complaints.
> >>>
> >>> We should certainly address the question of winter access to our
> >>> streets
> >>> and
> >>> sidewalks for people with disabilities as well as those without.
> >>>
> >>> We welcome your comments and proposals for discussion Monday (and by
> >> letter
> >>> or any other means you would like to involve us!). As you are aware,
> >> there
> >>> is a lot of competition for city funds and our efforts often have to
> >>> balance
> >>> various interests. I hope to see a balanced, affordable approach
> >> proposed.
> >>>
> >>> I am unable to attend Monday's meeting (and the one on March 12)
> >>> because
> >> of
> >>> business commitments out of town.
> >>>
> >>> I think you will find Kit's proposal very dehlpful to the
> >>> discussion.
> >>> Thanks
> >>> for ewriting.
> >>>
> >>> Sincerely,
> >>>
> >>
>

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