🚀 go-pugleaf

Does anyone out there remember January 14th, 1992?

For those who don't, on that date a fairly intense blizzard hit K-W, the
first in years. It was on this date, and in the following weeks, that I
came to realize a great truth about the city of Waterloo.
They really don't care about the welfare of their citizens.

Let me explain. It took up to TWO WEEKS for all the roads to be cleared.
Even more damning, I never saw a single sidewalk plow. Not one. In fact, I
never saw one for the entire duration of the winter. 

I have previously lived in Bramalea, London, and Ingersoll. I have also
spent extensive amounts of time in Parry Sound and Sudbury. In all these
locales, I have observed sidewalk plows out at seven in the morning the
day after a significant snowfall. 

But not in Waterloo. I called the city last year, after slipping and
sliding my way along the sidewalks on University Avenue and King Street.
It might be noted that both these streets are major arteries; in my mind
there is no excuse for the state of their sidewalks last winter. 

I called the city, as I say, and all they would tell me is that it is the
landowner's responsibility to clear the sidewalks in front of his/her
home. I'm sure the elderly appreciate the city foisting this on them. For
that matter, I'm sure EVERYONE appreciates this back-breaking labour,
especially when the city DOES have sidewalk plows.

Yes, they do. They are used downtown, as far as I can tell. But I've yet
to see one outside the city core, which is disgusting, to say the least.

Last I checked, taxes are paid in this city. But even paying taxes doesn't
mean the city will take any interest at all in the well-being of its
inhabitants!

Get with it, Waterloo. Everyone else is far, far ahead of you in this regard.

(I am about to venture out into the pouring rain. The roads are flooded to
a depth of almost a foot in places, because the city hasn't bothered to
clear the leaves off the roads. Of course, the leaves shouldn't be
blocking the drains in the first place, but people were told to rake them
out on to the road for pick-up. More fuel for the fire.)

Ken Breadner

-- 
Ken Breadner	brea9430@mach1.wlu.ca	(the BREADbox)	Waterloo, Canada
I have no opinions, according to some of my profs, and therefore I see no
real need for a disclaimer.
Thought for the moment (may be censored by little brown fuzzy things):