[NENA] FW: More on Barstow

Tue Mar 18 13:24:41 CDT 2008

John
Fair enough...I think we have finally framed the issues...
Stu

-----Original Message-----
From: John Ingram [mailto:ingram1ja at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 11:23 AM
To: Members at noreste.org; Maxon Stuart B Contractor AFOTEC/A3Z
Cc: ingram1ja at yahoo.com
Subject: RE: [NENA] FW: More on Barstow

Stuart,
I've been a member of NENA since 1991. There has always been opposition
to a bridge over the arroyo at Barstow, just as there has always been
opposition to building more homes on 1 acre of land, and opposition to
the paving and widening more of our neighborhood streets. 

I can't figure-out why you are just now hearing about this opposition.
How long have you been a member of NENA, or a member of this
neighborhood?

You bet my opposition is based on personal desire. That's where I start:
My desire for a higher quality of life. However, I'm not opposed to
studies, surveys, debates and votes to determine whether or not the
majority of my neighbors wants a bridge built over the arroyo at
Barstow.

You might try driving around and looking at those homes which back-up
to, or face a major arterial street. You can see for yourself the
negative impact on those homes.

Your argument that I, and others who live along Barstow, will just have
to accept higher traffic volumes so you don't have to drive one-half of
a mile in a different direction, is unacceptable. 

There are no problems that I am aware of with police, fire and medical
access. Do you have specific studies which demonstrate a problem in
these areas? If so, I'd like to read them.

Your best argument seems to be a personal desire to drive faster, so you
can get somewhere sooner. By the way, there is not a single area in our
neighborhoods that is 'landlocked'. 

As to our children, they can now walk along that section of Barstow to
Desert Ridge and La Cueva and back, and their parents don't have to
worry so much about the risk and danger of increasing, speeding traffic.
We will lose that safety factor if a bridge is built. 

I have different idea: Why don't we support the city removing the
concrete barriers blocking the entry-point at Barstow and Sabo, and let
these cars drive through your neighborhood? Would you support that as an
alternative to building a bridge at Barstow? How many of your neighbors
would support that?

When I built my house in 1991, I was told a bridge across the arroyo
would never be built. What did your developer/real estate agent tell you
when you bought into the neighborhood? By the way, those agents were
supposed to give you copies of our convenants, too.

What kind of arroyo crossing bridge was built on Ventura? On Wyoming? I
don't know of any.

I rarely drive south on Barstow in respect for my neighbors. Also, I
avoid the intersection at Barstow/Alameda, as well as the Desert Ridge
MS area. Instead, I drive down Oakland (over speed humps put there to
slow down high school students who like to speed down the street) and
then over to the stop light at Alameda, then over to Wyoming. That isn't
a problem for me. Why is going a half-mile a problem for you?

Barstow used to be alot more special than it is now. Before that La Lave
developer -contractor traded land with the Flood Authority, built more
homes, blocked upper Oakland and concreted the arroyo, we had a more
natural access across the arroyo. 

Unfortunately, we lost that natural beauty and access, and now have a
steel walking and biking bridge over the arroyo. 

Now, you want to take that away, and replace it with an automobile
bridge? Not if I can help it.

Respectfully,
Ingram

Maxon Stuart B Contractor AFOTEC/A3Z <Stuart.Maxon at afotec.af.mil> wrote:

	John, 
	I have been a subscriber to this NENA net list for years and was
not
	aware of this position until last week...All I have heard so far
is
	rhetoric and opinion...What hard evidence do we have to support
your
	assertion that it is the best decision for the community
overall...Has
	the city done a traffic study?...Have we conducted a survey or
	petition?...Show me the data and I will accept it...If you have
none, I
	will fight you to the end...

	We have new neighborhoods (NENA) that have formed on the
landlocked side
	since you formed your position...I do not believe they even have
	situational awareness of your position...Do they have less
right...to
	have easy access to city arterial streets...to have rapid and
dependable
	access to police, fire, and medical services...to not have to
drive .5
	miles east or west to gain access to a southbound road...I am
their
	neighbor...my rights are forfeit as well...These are rights you
	obviously take for granted...

	What about the residents who live along Wyoming and Ventura that
must
	forever absorb the traffic you are diverting to them...Do they
not have
	children as well? 

	You and I both chose to live along a main arterial street...We
knew that
	when we bought our homes...I accept it...you reject it...You
can't live
	in the city and expect a rural setting. 

	What is so special about Barstow that we must block it...As far
as I can
	tell, every arterial street from Tramway to the freeway has an
arroyo
	crossing...Except Barstow...What is different? The only thing
north of
	the arroyo are homes...with people like you and I...who just
want live
	and share the same service and convenience you have now... 

	For the most part the association has done pretty well for our
	community...I have applauded some of the decisions and have
disagreed
	from time to time...I have remained mute and have accepted the
	results...Until now...Until I see the data and know that your
position
	is the truth, I will simply believe it is your own personal
desire...

	Respectfully
	Stu Maxon