Dear Editor,
Are the Orange and Yellow striped cones on Houghton a permanent fixture? There are many things that can be blamed on Covid-19 and the pandemic but the pace for the completion of the drainage on the right sides of the north and south bound lanes should be one of them. Are we waiting on decorative rocks that are being imported so they are on a container vessel anchored outside of the Los Angeles area harbors? I think not.
Why do the contracts let by local and state governments for road construction not contain a quality requirement and bonus where the company can earn additional money for providing quality as measured by length of time before any repairs are needed (filling potholes, etc.) and a completion requirement and bonus where if the company finishes the project early they can collect additional sums? I think everyone who travels on Houghton or lives in the neighborhoods adjacent to the road has had enough of the detours, slow traffic, dust, mud, etc.
When I think back to the Kolb and Valencia project, there is not a home within 2 miles of the intersection so the question is why the road work could not have been done working 24/7 until it was completed? It certainly would have been done quicker and would have created less headaches and travel delays for those who use the intersection. Is it not possible to work 24/7? The last question about the roads and traffic is why are the traffic lights not synchronized so if you travel at about the posted speed limit, you would make every green light? I know that on Broadway from about 6:15 to 6:45 a.m., from Houghton to the west, if you travel at 43 mph, you can drive all the way to Swan before you might have to actual stop at a light . You can’t at noon do this at noon though. Why not? If we’re worried about pollution, etc. doesn’t it stand to reason that a moving car puts out less emissions (it is more efficient at burning gas) that one standing still?
Stuart Katz
Dear Editor,
The first casualty when war comes is truth “. As an addendum to a previous post I feel that it’s necessary to point out that one of the most unexpected consequences of the Covid war has been the lack of consistent and accurate information. For example take the slander against Dr. Peter McCullough. He is the most published Doctor ( per review articles, abstracts, etc…) in US medical history in addition to having impeccable credentials. Despite this his non-medical detractors in the media for the reason explained shortly resort to using “fact” checking teams like Reuters. Aside from the recent admission from Facebook that their fact checkers determinations are based on opinion not fact is the inherent conflict of interest that say an ostensibly reputable source like the aforementioned Reuters group has when one of their board members also serves on the board of Pfizer and is a member of the World Economic Forum. Such credentials do not lend to impartiality when a highly credible outside force threatens the immense profits that Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies have reaped over the past 2 years. One of the ironies of the attacks against Dr.McCullough, Dr. Meryl Nass and others is that they all advocate proven and safe early treatments that virtually guarantee that an infected person will not be hospitalized and in a worse case scenario intubated. Relying on the accusations of misleading and misinformation are way of conveniently categorizing contradictory views without having a serious analysis and or debate of the topic at hand. Neither Fox news, MSNBC or CNN for example have a monopoly on the truth and yes each has a targeted audience. However to denigrate viewers based on one’s preconceived notions does not lead to productive dialogue as the truth has no home.
Frank Hannibal
Dear Editor,
My thanks to the Pima County Department of Transportation for the initial pass at resurfacing Wentworth Road south of I-10 and for intersection improvements at Sahuarita and Wentworth Roads, commendable work as yet unfinished. As a longtime resident of the area, I know these perimeter roadways service more than motorized vehicles. We must recognize the need to share the pavement both with pedestrians, people on horse-back and bicycle riders. Cyclists of varying skill riding at a variety of speeds present potential obstacles to motor vehicles. Roadways outside the bustling commercial area of the county attract many riders, some in training and some to simply enjoy the striking views that ring this valley. We arrive at a time for introspection of how we perceive and interact with our environment. The choices we must make about how we move around the landscape rate high on the list of things we must evaluate.
I propose that from here forward, planning for all new road construction and resurfacing projects incorporate a plan for pathways for nonmotorized vehicle users. Current upgrades, we now realize, have been rendered less safe as smoother surfaces encourage higher speeds. Whilst recognizing that such enhancements will carry a price, it is a simple truth that every aspect of human activity involves a cost. Such a price tag will come attached to nearly every aspect of human activity. If we are to successfully move forward as a community in a world of change, it will require inventive planning and commitment to recognize the needs of all roadway users.
Sandy Whitehouse
