[Vision2020] Snow Grouch

[Art Deco]

Saundra wrote:

"Those with honest-to-God legitimate excuses aren't the ones who are the problems."  

For example, along West A Street: Superior Floor Products, The Renaissance Mall, U City Rentals property under construction, et al.

Yes, a lot of people have little or no choice but to walk, and we ought be encouraging as many people as possible to walk.  I agree about hypocritical Moscow whose high flown words do not match their actions, not only in this instance, but in others, e.g. traffic. bicycle, and pedestrian laws enforcement.  Some officers from both the two local law enforcement agencies in Moscow not only do not enforce these laws, but are violators themselves.

A new mayor, city council, city manager, and director of public works are certainly part of the solution to these and other problems.

I feel very fortunate to be served by the North Latah Highway District, who not only does a stellar job in winter, but does it in the shamefully small hours of the morning so that people can get to work on time, that the school buses can operate on time, and the morning papers can be delivered on time.

W.


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Saundra Lund 
  To: 'Chasuk' ; thansen at moscow.com ; kcraine at verizon.net ; mattd2107 at hotmail.com 
  Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com 
  Sent: Monday, December 29, 2008 11:31 PM
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Snow Grouch


  Chas wrote:
  "Let's have some compassion, folks."

  Yes, let's *do* have some compassion for those who either by necessity or
  care for the environment or choice are left to negotiate on foot or bike
  those incredibly dangerous sidewalks that remain unshoveled/uncleared for
  days & weeks at a time.

  While driving home from work or school -- in a car with heat -- in far less
  time than those on foot, let's *think* about those braving the dangerous
  sidewalks day in & day out on their ways home from work or school or picking
  up their prescriptions or buying their groceries.  Suddenly having to shovel
  in the dark doesn't seem like such a burden, does it?

  Let's have compassion for those who fall and are injured because some people
  think they have more important things to than live up to what it means to be
  a member of a community.

  I have plenty of compassion for those who genuinely have difficulty keeping
  sidewalks clear for legitimate health reasons, but guess what?  Those with
  honest-to-God legitimate excuses aren't the ones who are the problems.  And,
  quite frankly, I am sick & tired of the excuses for uncleared sidewalks some
  people are inclined to trot out each winter.

  Further, I'm sick and d*mn tired of living in a City with a budget the size
  of Moscow's that claims to have "green" aspirations and be pedestrian
  friendly yet turns a blind eye winter after winter.  Shame on our city
  administration.

  Yeah, I've found myself negotiating some dangerous sidewalks every winter,
  but more importantly, I have loved ones who either *have* to do it on a
  daily/weekly basis or become literally shut in and unable to work to pay
  their rent or mortgages or utilities or buy their groceries during the
  winter.  That's just shameful.

  Kit, I'd like to take this opportunity to *thank you* for your efforts to
  get the City to take this issue seriously.  Other cities & towns manage to
  do a great job of managing the problem -- what the heck is wrong that we
  can't?

  Maybe it's the attitude of the few so quick to make endless excuses . . . 


  Saundra Lund
  Moscow, ID

  -----Original Message-----
  From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
  On Behalf Of Chasuk
  Sent: Monday, December 29, 2008 9:00 PM
  To: thansen at moscow.com; kcraine at verizon.net; mattd2107 at hotmail.com
  Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Snow Grouch

  This is a problem that doesn't have an easy solution.  Not everyone
  who fails to clear their public easement within 24 hour is a scofflaw.
   Shoveling isn't easy for everyone.  Whether because of obesity, age,
  illness, injury, or other infirmity, not everyone is capable of doing
  it.  For those who are capable, the 24-hour requirement, while
  seemingly reasonable, isn't always enough time.  Combine work and
  sleep, and maybe school, and you are left shoveling in the dark.
  Maybe you are visiting family during the holidays.  Maybe you have no
  family or friends who can help, or they can't help precisely according
  to schedule.  Maybe paying your rent and your mortgage is already
  tight, and you have to decide which is more important, paying someone
  to shovel your snow, or buying groceries.  Maybe charity is
  embarrassing for you, or you don't know where to seek it.

  Let's have some compassion, folks.

  =======================================================
   List services made available by First Step Internet, 
   serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.   
                 http://www.fsr.net                       
            mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
  =======================================================

  =======================================================
   List services made available by First Step Internet, 
   serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.   
                 http://www.fsr.net                       
            mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
  =======================================================
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20081230/809c3e1f/attachment-0001.html