[Vision2020] Snow Grouch

[Matt Decker]

Kit,

I believe Chas was just stating fixing all the problems is not as easy as you make things out to be. Sue and walla it's magically fixed. We all could agree that perfectly clear streets and sidewalks would be ideal. I for one believe the city has done a great job with the resources they have. If you feel strong about this issue ask for a bigger budget, don't sue.

To keep these streets clean and perfect all the time would take much more resources than the city has alloted. I believe the county pays 15k each time they go out. How much would it cost to have each and every car towed within city limits each snow fall? Look at each street and count how many cars you see plowed in. What about vacant business lots? How much more would this cost? Deicing each and every hour so your car gets around like in the summer time?All these issues take manpower and money. Not an excuse but a reality. If keeping every street and sidewalk up to summer conditions is a priority, well that is not unreal, but impractical.  Do I believe things could be better? Sure. Do I feel that our city has failed us and should be sued? Nope. 

For one, where do these lawsuits end. Should I sue because I'm going to fast in my gas guzzling truck, take a corner to fast, nail a tree, kill my two kids, all of this because the city or county couldn't keep up in a huge snowstorm? Why should we sue the city because there might be a bottleneck? 

Kit excuses are not an escape from responsibility, but many people simply should not be punished because of obligations some might have. Let's take myself for instance. I plow commercial and private lots in the winter time. I wake up at 3 am and start plowing lots and shoveling sidewalks until about 2 pm. After that I volunteer to remove snow from and older gentleman who can't do it anymore. Get home about 3pm stone cold tired. But I go out and remove snow at my sidewalk. All of this if the snow stops. IF not repeat. Now how do you feel I should be sued, god forbid someone falls. And yes I know your answer but is that really fair, being I and other snow removers are out there busting their ass removing snow so you don't fall.

Also you stated that
 "I have proposed (and sort of got a start on) a voluntary program  
> thorough PCEI to help those who truly can't comply with the law. The  
> city wasn't interested."
Simply not true. Last year I volunteered for the PCEI program. I took on 3 properties, some of which I payed my employees to go do. One of the properties I was assigned because the MPD asked that the program does it. I had no problem doing so, being that I feel it necessary  as a citizen to help others out, keeping our sidewalks clear for the kids.

We might disagree but I think both sides can come to an agreement. Snow removal should be a priority. We have to be reasonable about the situation though.

Anyways take care and watch out for the slippery  stuff

Matt 
I have proposed (and sort of got a start on) a voluntary program  
thorough PCEI to help those who truly can't comply with the law. The  
city wasn't interested
> Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:54:41 -0800
> From: kcraine at verizon.net
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Snow Grouch
> To: chasuk at gmail.com
> CC: thansen at moscow.com; mattd2107 at hotmail.com; bevbafus at verizon.net; vision2020 at moscow.com
> 
> a) Responsibility is responsibility. Having to shovel in the dark or  
> early in the morning is one of those nasty little things that comes  
> with owning property  or signing a lease that makes shoveling the  
> tenants responsibility. If one has to arise early just in case snow  
> needs to be shovelled, so be it. If you guess wrong, enjoy an extra  
> cup of coffee.
> 
> b) If you are going to be out of town when it might snow, it is still  
> your RESPONSIBILITY to make sure your sidewalks are cleared while you  
> are gone. If your substitutes fails, that is between you and him/her.  
> Do not expect passing pedestrians to pay.
> 
> c) If you are suddenly ill, it is still your RESPONSIBILITY to do the  
> sidewalks (remind me to tell you the story of my having two impacted  
> wisdom teeth removed the day before an unexpected 10" of snow and  
> having to find someone to clear my walks when I was zoned out on pain  
> killers and couldn't talk). Even so, it is not unreasonable for the  
> community to provide (via the city or other means) an organization  
> you can call for help. I have been suggesting this for years to no  
> effect.
> 
> d) I have proposed (and sort of got a start on) a voluntary program  
> thorough PCEI to help those who truly can't comply with the law. The  
> city wasn't interested.
> 
> This is a problem that can be solved if the community--as managed by  
> the city--is interested. Fact is, that neither the city nor the  
> community really cares--they would rather have pedestrians to walking  
> in the traffic lanes than make travel on Moscow's sidewalks safe for  
> everyone.
> 
> I am endlessly amazed at the number of whining excuses why the  
> responsibility-challanged should be able to harm those who are  
> exercising their right to  safely use a public sidewalk instead of  
> being "men" and doing what needs to be done.
> 
> Kit Craine
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Dec 29, 2008, at 8:59 PM, Chasuk wrote:
> 
> > 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.
> 

_________________________________________________________________
Send e-mail anywhere. No map, no compass.
http://windowslive.com/oneline/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_anywhere_122008
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20081230/19a56909/attachment-0001.html