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Schmidt Declares Sidewalks Not Necessary
Desert Hot Springs, CA – “The planning commission makes decisions and the city
council rubber stamps it. There shouldn't be any messing around by the council.”
That's how Councilman Al Schmidt explained things, that “once a decision was
reached by the planning commission, that should be the end of it.”
At a special joint meeting of the city council and the planning commission on
Monday, August 11th, Councilman Al Schmidt lectured the commissioners that they
should act independently and “not worry about what the public wants.” Schmidt, the
former planning commission chairman, explained that's the way its supposed to
work.
Schmidt, a real estate developer, also said, “It's not really the decision of the city to
deal with sidewalks. This should be left up to the developer to decide if they want
sidewalks or not. It's not a city decision. Look at the country club. They don't have
sidewalks and nobody ever got killed there. It's a developer's decision. I don't think
you people really get it. This whole sidewalk thing really started with Gary Bosworth
and him wanting ramps for his wheelchair.”
Schmidt's example, using the Mission Lakes Country Club, is not fair, nor accurate
and shows his complete lack of understanding community issues. The country club,
outside city limits, has never been a danger to pedestrians. The country club has
private security on golf carts patroling the streets. Few people walk. The country club
has wide and curving streets producing considerably less traffic compared to major
narrow city streets of high traffic volume and high speed that are daily threatening
pedestrian lives elsewhere in the city.
Schmidt may complain about the sidewalk recently constructed on Palm Drive where
the tragedy ended the life of Carissa Nwene and kvetch about the many new
sidewalks in the poor part of town on First, Second and Third streets as being
unnecessary.
What Schmidt doesn't see are sidewalks enhancing pedestrian safety, improving
property values of our less affluent neighborhoods and instilling a newfound sense
of civic pride. Although this does not contribute to the bottom line of developer profits,
and neither does it serve to advance the development of “West Desert Hot Springs,”
it importantly adds to the quality of life in our entire community while increasing the
total value of the city.
Furthermore, Councilman Schmidt's insulting failure to appreciate the worthwhile
contributions of former Councilman Gary Bosworth, proves an insensitivity
unsuitable to leadership. Bosworth, a well-loved councilman of several terms was
confined to a wheelchair. Some years ago, Bosworth with fellow members of the
Rotary, took sledge hammers to city curbs, creating ramps for wheelchairs. Concrete
was donated for volunteers making sidewalks and streets of Palm Drive safe for
wheelchair travel.
Undeniably curbs, sidewalks, and bike lanes save lives. Schmidt echoes the lament
of Fred Bell's Building Industry Association preferring not to bear the costs of
common sidewalks and curbs. Their thinking is sidewalks and bike lanes are a
burden equating to less houses per acre meaning less developer profits.
This way of thinking condemns a city to third world status. Certainly, it may be
appropriate in some residential developments to not have sidewalks, if streets are
wide and traffic slow. Just as certainly it is important to have major thoroughfares
and arterial streets with mandatory sidewalks, protective curbs and designated bike
lanes.
Schmidt's way of thinking is old-school and selfish. Putting the profits of developers
first and public safety last does not increase the value of a city. Bosworth's example
of leadership was audacious and an exemplary individual action. Unlike Schmidt,
this city cannot dismiss the enduring and valuable contributions of Gary Bosworth,
but owe him our eternal thanks for serving as an fine example of what can and must
be done to improve this city.
Desert Hot Springs, CA – “The planning commission makes decisions and the city
council rubber stamps it. There shouldn't be any messing around by the council.”
That's how Councilman Al Schmidt explained things, that “once a decision was
reached by the planning commission, that should be the end of it.”
At a special joint meeting of the city council and the planning commission on
Monday, August 11th, Councilman Al Schmidt lectured the commissioners that they
should act independently and “not worry about what the public wants.” Schmidt, the
former planning commission chairman, explained that's the way its supposed to
work.
Schmidt, a real estate developer, also said, “It's not really the decision of the city to
deal with sidewalks. This should be left up to the developer to decide if they want
sidewalks or not. It's not a city decision. Look at the country club. They don't have
sidewalks and nobody ever got killed there. It's a developer's decision. I don't think
you people really get it. This whole sidewalk thing really started with Gary Bosworth
and him wanting ramps for his wheelchair.”
Schmidt's example, using the Mission Lakes Country Club, is not fair, nor accurate
and shows his complete lack of understanding community issues. The country club,
outside city limits, has never been a danger to pedestrians. The country club has
private security on golf carts patroling the streets. Few people walk. The country club
has wide and curving streets producing considerably less traffic compared to major
narrow city streets of high traffic volume and high speed that are daily threatening
pedestrian lives elsewhere in the city.
Schmidt may complain about the sidewalk recently constructed on Palm Drive where
the tragedy ended the life of Carissa Nwene and kvetch about the many new
sidewalks in the poor part of town on First, Second and Third streets as being
unnecessary.
What Schmidt doesn't see are sidewalks enhancing pedestrian safety, improving
property values of our less affluent neighborhoods and instilling a newfound sense
of civic pride. Although this does not contribute to the bottom line of developer profits,
and neither does it serve to advance the development of “West Desert Hot Springs,”
it importantly adds to the quality of life in our entire community while increasing the
total value of the city.
Furthermore, Councilman Schmidt's insulting failure to appreciate the worthwhile
contributions of former Councilman Gary Bosworth, proves an insensitivity
unsuitable to leadership. Bosworth, a well-loved councilman of several terms was
confined to a wheelchair. Some years ago, Bosworth with fellow members of the
Rotary, took sledge hammers to city curbs, creating ramps for wheelchairs. Concrete
was donated for volunteers making sidewalks and streets of Palm Drive safe for
wheelchair travel.
Undeniably curbs, sidewalks, and bike lanes save lives. Schmidt echoes the lament
of Fred Bell's Building Industry Association preferring not to bear the costs of
common sidewalks and curbs. Their thinking is sidewalks and bike lanes are a
burden equating to less houses per acre meaning less developer profits.
This way of thinking condemns a city to third world status. Certainly, it may be
appropriate in some residential developments to not have sidewalks, if streets are
wide and traffic slow. Just as certainly it is important to have major thoroughfares
and arterial streets with mandatory sidewalks, protective curbs and designated bike
lanes.
Schmidt's way of thinking is old-school and selfish. Putting the profits of developers
first and public safety last does not increase the value of a city. Bosworth's example
of leadership was audacious and an exemplary individual action. Unlike Schmidt,
this city cannot dismiss the enduring and valuable contributions of Gary Bosworth,
but owe him our eternal thanks for serving as an fine example of what can and must
be done to improve this city.
Bosworth's legacy
| Editorial Desert Valley Star: August 25, 2008 |