Progress of Stockdale road repair shameful
March 1 has come and gone with no improvement on Stockdale Highway. The city has continued to ignore basic needs of the community by digging up one of the main arterials, both from a standpoint of damage to commerce, and also from the standpoint of abusing the taxpayers' automobiles -- and leaving it unrepaired for over six months. Many citizens understandably simply avoid the roadway.
If this were a business situation, taxpayers could sue for damages and/or sack the culprits, the staff at city hall.
This city has repeated the message that tax revenue is off over 20 percent. One of the main sources for this tax revenue is merchants' activity, which has been crippled by the citizenry's hesitation to use this roadway, with its out of code temporary pavements, potholes, traffic barriers and improper lighting. Accidents caused by this travesty, however, have upped the police time and charges. Front-end alignment and tire shops have certainly picked up some action due to the roadway.
During the holiday periods it is estimated by supermarkets, restaurants, retail shops, etc., that their volume may have been hurt by this same figure: 20 percent. The taxpayers have to make this up some way, so the folks downtown will probably devise something new to clip from the citizens to cushion the shortfall.
The onset of "good weather" may bring many "street repairs," according to the city. Woe unto the citizens whose thoroughfare becomes the subject of a repair job, Bakersfield-style.
RICHARD JENNINGS
Bakersfield
