You'd Think That Shop Rite Would Know The Drill By Now!

Yesterday afternoon, I first saw the Shop Rite 18-wheeler headed west in the 500 block of State Street, among the five blocks of State between Green and 3rd that compromise what is known around these parts as the Easily Accessible Truck Route Alternative that HPD, mayor Ferris, Rob Perry, Jason Foster, and Margaret Morris are all fine with.

Here We Go Again With The Whack-A-WaterMole! Get Out The Checkbook and Tell Dewan Sarowar To Come Have A Look!

At least two houses in the 200 block of Columbia Street (210 and 212) were flooded this morning due to a municipal pipe break that I have been told by a DPW employee was related to a water main, not a sewer pipe.  It is a wet, muddy mess down there, street closed, a waiting fire engine, and it appears that a local excavation contractor has been called in to assist ($$$$).  This is a much larger response than yesterday's response to the busted pipe at 4th & State, which appears to be completed (though a dirt and stone surface is waiting for asphalt to patch the hole). This latest headache for DPW -- and expense for the city -- will not be wrapping up today, and it's entirely possible that the 200 block of Columbia will be closed to traffic all weekend.

Old Pipes, Too Much Water

Here is some information that has yet to make it to the Announcements section of the city's website.  The DPW Water Department is dealing with a broken pipe of some sort directly under the middle of the intersection of State & 4th.  State is closed to traffic from 3rd to 4th. A whole lot of water is being pumped out of the excavation that was made.  At least one subcontractor for a utility, likely National Grid, is involved with the response.

6:45 This Morning In The Bowl At 325 Columbia! (Hello Climate Change!) Is Rob Perry Aware?

It has been nearly one year since HUDseen last reported on flooding at the low point of Columbia Street, found alongside the County Mental Health building at 325 Columbia.  Unsurprisingly (certainly not to nearby residents, and likely Rob Perry as well), after hours of nonstop heavy rain overnight, another lake formed in the street, on the sidewalks and on properties, though it did not appear to be as deep as last year's lake. (In mid-August, I only saw and took pictures of the aftermath.)  This morning, in the pouring rain, in my flip flops standing in the middle of the street at the deepest/lowest point, the surface of the lake was nearly up to my knees, close to 18 inches.  

The State of Partition (and So Much More)? Not So Good!

As HUDseen reported two weeks ago in an article titled SINKHOLE CITY, a small hole appeared on South 3rd Street at Partition (we bicyclists keep an eye out for these things).  DPW soon got to the problem below and sometime last week they covered their excavation with asphalt.  Job done.  

Woah! WOAH! WOAH, Nellie! 35 PAGES??? (And That's Not All Of Them!)

Readers may recall that there was a nasty car collision at the intersection of 7th & State on December 6th, 2024. (7th is the only intersection on State where State traffic does not stop.)  In early 2025, I wrote that the city, for reasons having to do with "ongoing litigation," was not disclosing any documents related to that crash.  Later last year, as part of a repeat FOIL request I made to pry this information from HPD, I was told -- in the form of another letter from HPD via email -- that any documents related to the incident at 7th & State would be available in June of 2026!  I couldn't even get my hands on a simple accident report for several more months.  Patience!

It Hasn't Even Been Three Years!

It was in the fall of 2023 that the Stewart's intersection was improved.  Included in that improvement was a new concrete curb (with ADA mats) and concrete sidewalk on the northeast corner.  That corner had always taken a beating, and it still does.  If he ever notices, does Rob Perry care how much time and money he will have to spend to keep that corner from being destroyed and a danger to pedestrians who dare to step there?