On July 3, 2007 I wrote a letter to Mr. Leon Gous concerning the lack of a sidewalk on 24th Ave. between Mission Hill Rd. And 43rd St.
My letter was passed along and I received a reply from Transportation Technician, Laurie MacKay on Nov. 1, 2007. Imagine having to wait four months for an answer from City Hall? And then only to be informed that our section of the city was not a priority for a sidewalk. That was over four years ago.
In my first letter, I explained how parents pushing strollers, and seniors using walkers, had to do so on the main thoroughfare along with cars which are often speeding.
Since then, several housing developments have gone in, a large recycling depot has been built, a new bus terminal for the city was just completed. All have brought increasing traffic and … still we have no sidewalk. And this with more small children now living along this street.
Recently I was forced to tread on private property when two transport trucks were parked directly across from each other leaving a gauntlet narrow enough only for a small car to pass.
In winter this situation is downright dangerous as ice builds up along the street’s sides – one slip on it and a pedestrian is meeting the wheels of a car, or worse, a big truck.
Those of us who live here in the vicinity have waited and waited for over four years for one sidewalk. Instead this summer you see fit to install a second, parallel sidewalk along Okanagan Avenue. Do we not pay taxes like everyone else in this city? Where are we on your Master Sidewalk Plan? Are we number five or 15 or are we lucky, and our number finally hit the No. 1 or No. 2 spot?
We have been patient since July of 2007 – that is four years and four months.
Patricia A. Donahue, Vernon
