Alton Parkway Closed!

BOB: Hey. I was driving to work yesterday and Alton Parkway was closed. They said for two months or more. The City waited years and years for Alton Parkway to open, and it’s barely been open when now it’s going to be closed.

BARB: “Was it an earthquake? Did the wild lands catch fire?”

BOB: No. It’s none of those things. Instead, developers are closing the City street while they move dirt from one side of Alton to the other.

BARB: “Developers? How can developers close a City street?”

BOB: Technically the City is closing the street, but they’re doing it to help the developers.

BARB:“How does it help the developers?”

BOB: If the City didn’t close the street, for months, the developers would have to move the dirt more slowly. They’d probably have to move it at night and that would cost them, a lot of overtime.

BARB: “So the City is closing a City street in order to help developers save money?”

BOB: Yup.

BARB: “IOW – The City is going to inconvenience thousands of residents just so the developers can save a little money?”

BOB: Well, it’s not a little money. It’s a LOT of money.

BARB: “Do the developers really need to save a lot of money?”

BOB: Actually, no. They’ve made MILLIONS OF DOLLARS in profits, but they always want to make even more money. After all, this is American and companies want to make as much profit as they can.

BARB: “I understand the profit motive. What I don’t understand is why the City is helping the developers make even more money at the expense of the well being of the residents.”

BOB: What do you mean?

BARB: “Not only will this be inconvenient, it will take us more time. And not only more time, but more money to gas our cars to pay for the extra miles and the extra time.”

BOB: Hmmm

BARB: “And it’s not just the inconvenience, the extra time and the extra money. What about the congestion!”

BOB: What do you mean?

BARB: “We already have a major traffic congestion problem in the City. This is only going to make matters worse.”

BOB: But it’s only for a few months.

BARB: “I don’t care if it’s only for a few weeks. We have major traffic congestion in this City and we should be doing things to make it better, not worse.”

BOB: Don’t be so selfish. Think of all the money you’re saving the developers.

BARB: “So the rich developers get even richer and the hassled residents get more hassles?”

BOB: There you go again - Only thinking of yourself and your neighbors. What about all those jobs the developers create?

BARB: “Sure, but those jobs don’t go to our residents. Almost all of that money goes outside the City, so we get no benefit.”

BOB: What’s your solution?

· BARB: “How about letting the developers move the dirt without closing down Alton Parkway for months? How about letting them do it the way other developers do it? Maybe it takes a little longer and maybe it costs a little more money, but why should we have to bear the burdens of time, energy, and expenses while the developers line their pockets with even more money?”

BOB: Maybe you should write to the City. Or go to the City Council. They’re the ones that made the decision.