Do it for the kids, please
No sidewalks for Clinton Ave despite recommendations by police & Village Engineer
November 6th 2014
Boyd A. Loving
10:20 PM
As a result of the Council’s decision, Clinton will remain closed to vehicular traffic before, during and after school hours every day school is in session, and dozens of children making their way to and from points south of Godwin Avenue to the Ridge Elementary school will continue walking to and from school in the middle of that street.
Several Clinton Avenue property owners were present at the Council Work Session, but none spoke. No representative of the police department was in attendance, nor was Village Engineer Christopher Rutishauser, who was present, afforded an opportunity to provide input (Rutishauser’s office authored and manages the Village’s “Complete Streets” policy).
Paradoxically, when many West Side residents expressed displeasure with the reconfiguration of Garber Square, Village Council members cited the “Complete Streets” policy as a primary reason why the changes were being made in conjunction with resurfacing of the area. I guess the likelihood of 32 potential happy voters trumps “Complete Streets” in the case of Clinton Avenue?
As evidenced by the tragic loss-of-life incident that occurred several months ago in nearby Hawthorne, a driver could disregard posted “Do Not Enter” signs and come barreling down Clinton Avenue at the wrong time, taking out several innocent school children in a heartbeat.
Hopefully Village Council members come to their senses quickly and reverse this potentially tragic decision.
These people think its a private street.
They want it closed all day for their convenience.
They never stop with their stupid signs, as indicated above, and the ‘drive like your kid lives here’ signs.
News flash: its a public street, you’re not special. you’re getting sidewalks for the greater good and safety of the children.
i am sure that the homeowners like having their street closed to cars.
Traffic flow would be better with the road open. They want their neighbors to have the traffic burden while they enjoy a private road.
Who wouldn’t want that.
Councilman Mike Sedon’s endorsement of the no sidewalks decision was a huge disappointment.
Children walking in the middle of a public street? What is this Council thinking? Oh, right – 32 votes.
Is it also closed for their landscapers and the trailers or is ok and safe. I guess ” do it for the kids ” Doesn’t work in this case. Well Council not following the recommendation of you department heads will really help us if some kid get hit and their parents sue but Albert knows that because
(Wait for it) he’s a hotel attorney
Remember when the residents of Hawthorne Place ripped out their sidewalks because they were tired of keeping them clear of snow? Village Council back then did the right thing – fined them all and had the sidewalks put back in. What a loser group this Council is.
They are special #1 they backed the DREAM TEAM and now its payback time.
Your right #3 I voted for the two but what disappointment. I guess it was the lesser of the evils .
Huge lawsuit in the making if someone gets run over and a precedent setting decision for the next time someone doesn’t want a sidewalk built or replaced in front of their home or business.
Bad call by Sedon on this one. He will be blamed by the 3 numb-nuts when it blows up in all of their faces.
And Attorney Rogers – what is he thinking?
Was it a 5 to 0 vote?
Hang ‘Em High
4 to 0 – Knudsen was absent.
I don’t get that guy. Journalists don’t make much money, yet he can afford to quit his job, live in Ridgewood and freelance / write a novel? I guess he inherited, or his wife is loaded.
I question his motives.
What was the Village Mgrs. recommendation on this one ?
There are many streets in the Village without sidewalks — does that mean that the Village Engineer and Police recommendations control the voting — I think not —
Mr. Sedon was following the guidance of the Village attorney for his decision on this one.
In agreement with #1 what happens when it is one of there kids involved in an accident? These are not special people and the council is WRONG.
Fresh Start you are right that there are many streets in Ridgewood that don’t have sidewalks but this street is very close to the school and is used by many children who walk in the middle of the street because it closed. The center of the world is not at Roberts St. This is a safety issue plane and simple.
Fresh Start pedestrian safety especially when it comes to children trumps tax payers who don’t want a sidewalk. Where is our Mayor with ADA. Am I to take my walker up the middle of the street. Our Mayor is full of hot air.
Best comment of the day.
If there was ever a street that needed sidewalks its Clinton.
These people got special treatment with their road being closed during school hours, thus forcing their neighbors on other streets such as South Murray to have more traffic which is inconsiderate as hell.
If the rest of the taxpayers are paying to pave it, then we deserve sidewalks on this street that should be open as the rest of the public roads are.
Perhaps its time to rethink the closing of that street during school hours.
“IF” anything, perhaps close it from 830AM-930AM and 230pm-330pm on school days Sept-June.
There is NO GOOD REASON to have it closed the rest of the day.
See the can of worms you Clinton snobs opened up?
PS- your signs ‘drive like your kid lives here’ are illegal and need to come down.
Its a great idea to put curbs and sidewalks on Clinton.
Since everyone drives their kids to Ridge, Clinton should be the designated parking/drop off area.
This would solve the traffic and parking problems on West Ridgewood ave.
The sidewalks would make it safe for the few children that actually do walk to school.
Mr. Sedon lost more votes than he gained here.
Nothing resolved here —– as usual —-
Find the black bear who ran down that street when the fire hoses scared him out of the tree and ask his opinion.
I also immediately thought of Hawthorne Place. A short dead end street that was forced to have sidewalks.
Clinton is in a heavily traveled area. They need sidewalks and then the town will no longer have to give them the special treatment of a private road.
If they wanted a road without traffic they should have purchased on a dead end street.
“Nothing resolved here —– as usual ” What the matter FRESH START AKA Dom you didn’t like the answer posted. Did you ever think that they may be right. Then again it your way or the highway
Well Mr. Sedon I guess the honeymoon is over.
Well then they can paint a marker line for a walk way. That may work.
Bandaid approach #28