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| Irony, Gahan-style. |
On Sunday, just as Boomtown was beginning, Mayor Jeff Gahan sidled over to my Flea Off Market Row booth.
At least, I think it was Gahan. He seemed oddly nonplussed, but at any rate, we chatted briefly. I pointed to the books we were selling, and asked if he was familiar with any of them.
That one, he gestured. "It's a good one."
"Ah, yes indeed," I replied: "Too bad it's taking us far too long to do the right thing."
Gahan registered surprise: "Really? Do you think it's taking too long?"
"Absolutely. Spring Street's a mess, Jeff. It's dangerous for the neighborhood, designed only for pass-through speeding."
"Hmm. Do you think it's dangerous?"
"Yes," I said, "and since the Main Street project started, all the heavy trucks coming over to Spring Street are ruining our quality of life."
Gahan countered: "Really? Do you think they're actually diverting?"
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| #548 in an ongoing series. |
I was beginning to notice a certain pattern in the mayor's responses, and considered making the statement that the moon is crafted from Limburger cheese, only so I could hear him ask me, "do you really think the moon's crafted from Limburger cheese?"
Unfortunately, that's where the conversation ended, because he spotted an old crony and hurriedly departed in mid-sentence. Later he waved back and said, "we'll talk."
Somehow I'm doubtful.
The question remains, and as a candidate for mayor should indicate your stance on other parts of the city:
ReplyDeleteIf not a main artery such as Spring, then where do we divert the heavy commercial traffic to?
Main streets "quality of life" has gotten better with them being diverted from there to spring, which area of town gets the safety hazards and reduced quality of life?
The commercial traffic will remain, local jobs depend on some. Which companies will be exempt? 18 wheelers delivering supplies to local merchants are OK, but trucks going out to make deliveries are not?
From there, ANY civil servants attention should shift from "I know this is good for *this* area, but exactly why is this areas residents and businesses more deserving than others?"
Economic categorical eligibility for special exceptions cannot and should not be considered until ideas have been put forth to control the domino effect.
Could you live with yourself if Spring was declared heavy commercial traffic free, then a child was killed by a diverted truck on a smaller avenue?
I see several considerations.
ReplyDelete1 Certain types of buinesses no longer are compatible with a revitalizing city.
2 Economic development policies must take this into account, and assist with relocation so that the entities can run their businesses in appropriate areas (read: industrial parks). Their vacated locations will be much more appropriate for people, as opposed to machinery, or for less invasive businesses.
3 This said, complete streets are not about banning trucks and heavy equipment, merely placing them in context. Nothing in the Speck plan (for one) mentions diverting trucks. The street is for all users first and foremost. Trucks and heavy equipment can use them -- more slowly, and in narrower lane widths. Speed and size kill. Slow them down.
4 My guess is that the majority of the pass-throughs will divert themselves, and by divert I do not mean side streets. We have actual interstate highways for this purpose.
5 It might be noted that in addition to these other considerations, there are peristent rumors to the effect that Padgett understands that it will not be able to expand in its current location given the preceding, and so is looking at River Ridge as an alternative. If so, why not be pre-emptive and get Padgett into the 40 acres of unused industrial park land we already have? Padgett can profit immensely from the value of its current downtown property as adaptive reuse.
6 There may be no such thing as win-win -- but maybe more can win than currently is the case.
Gahan is a pompous ass who has no intention to listening to anyone but himself, fire the bastard in November.
ReplyDeleteFor clarity, I'm not "picking on you". These are important issues, and since revitalization would appear to be a core platform, if I'm thinking it, others are as well, and if you can get answers out there first, and take no offense by this statement, maybe you can be viewed by the traditional voters as more than a candidate that will just take votes away from the " real candidates ".
ReplyDeleteSubsidies to get growing industrial ventures into our industrial park should be a paramount. That also opens space in the city core for magnets.
- I still stick to my idea of spring from Silver Street to state street. Two way possibly with turning lane and a two way bike lane on one side (that links to the green way via silver)... Wish in one hand....
And I still maintain that the biggest economic boosts to the city are 1. Clean it up, it's embarrassing just how dirty this town is 2. Clean up the social media negativity. (It's noticed very much)
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ReplyDeleteI happen to live on Main Street and see the Trucks all day and Night(thanks tiger trucking). Last week a guy was driving down main street doing the speed limit and a dump truck from Innovative Crushing and Aggregate, Inc was laying on his horn riding the guys ass. The guy finally stopped and the guy in the dump truck got out and started yelling at the man in the car. It was a sight.
ReplyDeleteBut as mentioned above. There are several business up and down main street and other parts of town that should be enticed to move to the industrial park. Who wants to invest in a house only to have trucks fly up and down the street all hours of the night. Maybe someone will actually do something with the M. Fine and Sons building than what is currently being done if the area was made more appealing.