Not Holding My Breath for Sidewalks

By Brian T. Peterson, San Diego

E-MAIL STORY

Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006 | I agree with Nelson Rainer that this city has misplaced priorities. On the other hand, I envy Mr. Rainer that his neighborhood actually has sidewalks to fix. In my neighborhood in Grantville, pedestrians are reduced to using a dirt path or walking in the street.

On Riverdale St. between Rainier Ave. and Friars Rd. there is no sidewalk. What we have is a path worn into the weeds by repeated foot traffic. Clearly, there should be a sidewalk, and it easily could have been provided by Council District 7 infrastructure funds. Instead, during his tenure as City Councilman, Jim Madaffer has used these monies on such "priorities" as a clock tower at the corner of Zion Ave. and Waring Rd. in Allied Gardens, and last year on Colleen Windsor's salary.

It is not that District 7 does not know that there should be a sidewalk, because they do. I talked to them about this a year ago. The response, which came three months later from the city department responsible for sidewalks, was in effect, "don't hold your breath," and I am not.

Some may see people walking through the weeds and see an argument for Grantville redevelopment. What they are really seeing, however, is evidence that the city must realign its priorities.

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