Is It Any Wonder?

Is it any wonder that two people were hit by turning vehicles in this crosswalk last December?  Within 40 hours of one another, no less!

After waiting for about 20 seconds until it was "safe" to cross the southern end of Park Place this morning, the father and mother holding her infant child made it across alive. The crossing itself took about 15 seconds (mother walking slowly while holding baby). 

Unlike the crosswalk a few steps away that crosses Warren Street, this crosswalk has no flashing pedestrian crossing signal to help pedestrians get across alive by letting drivers know that the pedestrian crosswalk is being used or about to be.

Is it any wonder that 6 months after two city residents -- one by the name of Jason Foster -- were struck by turning vehicles in this crosswalk that there has been no mention at any committee or council meetings of the incidents?  Is it any wonder there has been absolute silence?  Is it any wonder that there has been zero discussion about how to make that unsignalized crosswalk and intersection safer for everyone?  Is it any wonder that no one seems to care if another pedestrian -- or a family of three -- gets struck by another turning vehicle in that crosswalk?

Is it any wonder that Rob Perry, Margaret Morris, Mishanda Franklin, Joe Ferris (our "safety mayor"), Jason Foster and Henry Haddad, to name a few, apparently don't give a crap about how unsafe that intersection is for pedestrians, or even if it's the city's most dangerous, unwelcome and potentially deadly intersection for pedestrians?

Is it any wonder that the first of two city residents who were struck by turning vehicles in that crosswalk last December is suing the city for creating a dangerous intersection?  Is it any wonder that city resident wasn't killed after being run over?  And if Jason Foster had been badly injured or killed instead of being grazed by a turning vehicle at Park & Warren on December 20th, would we all be well aware of it?

Would it be any surprise if someone else in the past 6 months has been struck by a vehicle in that crosswalk and no one outside of HPD has been made aware of it?  How would we know about such an incident if they're not at all interested in talking publicly about pedestrians being struck by vehicles, particularly in crosswalks where multiple pedestrians have been struck?  It appears HPD doesn't want us to know about such incidents.  It appears HPD doesn't care about making crosswalks or intersections as safe as possible for us.  It appears that HPD doesn't care about us.  What else can one conclude?

It appears that HPD is more concerned with parking kiosks than creating a livable, walkable city and keeping city residents and visitors -- including children and families -- safe and alive.  Would it be any wonder if this is 100 percent true?

It also might be the truth that DPW Superintendent Rob Perry doesn't give a crap what his ADA curb ramp safety mats look like or how damaged, missing and unsafe they are.  Now that, my friends, would be no wonder at all!