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Originally Posted by JiriHrdina
There was no concept for the festival. Just someone who wanted to flex their aldermanic muscles.
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How were "aldermanic muscles" flexed? Road closure decisions aren't made by the elected officials on council, including this one. The only "aldermanic muscle" there is, is to vote on motions to council. This did not happen.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JiriHrdina
Roads are built for cars. That's what they are for.
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Plus bicycles, motorcycles, buses, and some roads for transport trucks, and for the occasional closure when the space they take up is used for other purposes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JiriHrdina
Anytime you are shutting down a major road it should be for a good reason - an idea beyond just "hey let's shut down this street".
Again - I'm all for shutting them down from time to time but for a good reason.
The entire concept was poorly planned and a bad idea from the start. A community like Ramsay is dieing for an event like this (or Inglewood). Sticking it on Memorial just for the sake of doing so was silly.
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So what is your solution? Have every road closure application go through a screening process to determine if there are "good reasons?" Is a crane erection a good reason? Is an adjacent building demolition good reason? Tree removal, and if so, what species and size of trees are okay, and which ones aren't to warrant a closure for an afternoon? Work on overhead wires? Community block party?
Assuming a screening process, how do you propose it works? Does every one of the hundreds of road closure applications annually go to council, or are we going to draw up a list of what are and are not "good reasons" for closing lanes of a road and have the transportation department continue to deal with it? It would have to be every single road closure application, as it would be an unfair process any other way. If you politicize one by determining whether the reasons for them are good or not, you have to politicize them all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JiriHrdina
And do be clear - I'm not upset about this specifically but it is more evidence about what is wrong with how this city has been run for the last few years. No real thought. Willy nilly decisions, and a lack of proper consultation.
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How is this evidence of a "willy nilly decision?"
Decision breaks down as follows:
1. Application received and all information fields filled out correctly?
2. Application received "X" days before date of proposed closure?
3. Do traffic counts for duration of proposed closure meet current standards for allowing lane closures?
If answer is "no" to any of the above, closure denied. Otherwise, closure granted.