01/15/2007: "Disgusted"

To The Editor:

I am writing to express immense disgust with the Town of Friday Harbor and the Post Office. After a week of slipping and sliding and watching others, many elderly or physically compromised, do the same, I am compelled to name names and point a finger. Why is it that Kings Market parking and the block around it are clear of ice and snow and the Post Office lot and walks are still treacherous? How is it that the library lot is in comparatively better condition and their walks are clear? Why is it that the County Courthouse walks have been clear since early in the week? And the County roads I travel have been well and correctly sanded since early in the week as well.

If I hear another time that, "plowing will make it more slippery" I will forget to be polite! Yet this is the magical thinking that theoretically intelligent people use to excuse doing nothing. Granted, many times there is little or no snow and ice of a winter and doing nothing works because thaw follows in a day or two. However, a forecast of below freezing temperatures informed us thawing was not going to happen soon.

One look down Spring Street tells the story. The responsible business owners cleared snow and ice and spread salt or chemical de-icer. Those sidewalks are clear today. After the first days, the Town did basically nothing; intersections barely kissed by plow or sand, pedestrian crosswalks untouched. Apparently both the Town and Post Office management feel they have no liability for the safety of their public. There is arrogance in this unconcern for the customer that the private sector does not, for the most part, share.

Having lived in places with serious winter, I can report that in the real world even the public entities accept their responsibility of making their roads and premises safe for the community and commerce.

Thank you,

Denise Acsay
San Juan Island