We measure in inches: ADA sidewalk requirements are crucial, unless we don't bother enforcing them.

Board of Public Works and Safety, 03-29-16.

As a preface to what follows, see the photo above. Parking on the sidewalk on this one block is an everyday occurrence, and has been for years. Not weeks or months, years.

Now, read about the critical importance of ADA access requirements.

To Feast's credit, restaurant staff comes to the Bored of Works and Frivolity seeking permission to have outdoor seating. City engineer Summers offers a stern lecture about width of passage. The request is approved. Meanwhile, four blocks away ...

Another downtown merchant takes the initiative to come before the Bored, this time with reference to a sign. Once again, Summers specifies requirements to the inch.

Approval is granted. Meanwhile, four blocks away ...

Hell, over on Cherry Street, where Jeff Gahan's phantom street "calming" measures are about as well known as the Bulgarian Women's Choir  songbook, we're actually issuing tickets for cars parking on the sidewalk in self-defense.

Meanwhile, over on 3rd Street ...

Dude: Does Charles Jones have the nude photos hidden somewhere, or what?

A tale of two closed sidewalks in the 3rd council district.

On 5th Street, because we're replacing it.

On 3rd Street, because ... why?

Does the Americans with Disabilities Act mean anything to City Hall?

CM Phipps: Isn't ignoring the ADA a human rights issue?

Sidewalk parking impunity?

Of course, another question to ask is why this stretch of sidewalk is in such a state of wretched disrepair, but let's begin elsewhere.

Way back in 2012, we explained the sheer wonderment of Doug England's non-enforcement regime as it pertains to downtown parking.

ON THE AVENUES: Can’t stuff ‘em in a burlap sack, either.

 ... During the epochal third England Administration, which ingloriously perished when the Democratic executive’s hand-picked Republican successor was crushed prior to his suffering a humiliating council race loss to a comparative non-entity, the mayor took precious time away from his lifelong hobby of dispensing politically-motivated favors with other people’s money to heroically sidestep any involvement with downtown parking issues. Hizzonner simply decreed that downtown parking rules would not be enforced ...

Concurrently, we know that a city ordinance forbids parking in certain places. We just don't know exactly where this ordinance is being enforced.

"No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any of the following places."

§ 72.18 PROHIBITED PARKING AREAS.

(A) (1) No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle in any of the following places:

(a) On a sidewalk;
(b) In front of, or otherwise blocking access to, a public or private drive;
(c) Within an intersection;
(d) Within ten feet of a fire hydrant;
(e) On a crosswalk;
(f) On a tree lawn, the space between the street curb and the sidewalk; and
(g) Front yard, side yard, rear yard or courtyard other than a designated driveway.

Consequently, given that the cars pictured above on 3rd Street between Main and market are parked on the sidewalk just about every day, we must reasonably conclude that the ordinance prohibiting parking on the sidewalk is among those not being enforced since England decreed lawbreaking to be not only tolerable, but municipal government's solemn duty -- something Jeff Gahan has chosen to observe, too.

Therefore, if there is in fact a parking problem in downtown New Albany, isn't the clearest way to resolve it, and the one already sanctioned by City Hall, to allow people to double park their cars on sidewalks to their heart's content? In fact, on the Market Street sidewalk opposite the Copier Mart's front door, there probably is room for two rows of cars on the sidewalk and one on the street.

In the absence of enforcement, what's to stop anyone from doing so?

Because, as you can see, they already are.