Glimpses of South Pasadena: And so it goes...

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

And so it goes...

Fair Oaks construction. Any constructive thoughts about it?

25 comments:

Mister Earl said...: You would not believe what I experienced yesterday morning. They had blocked off the dirt on the north side of the Wells Fargo Starbucks, so you could only walk in from the south side across the dirt. So I'm walking in that way, and they have a jack hammer within 10 feet working, and it's throwing up small bits of concrete right where people have to walk. I looked at them like, "You're doing this at the only way into the store?" I went in and told the manager what was going on. A few minutes later they stopped using the jack hammer, but the fact that they thought they could do it, even for a minute, seemed to confirm my skepticism about how professional these crews are.; March 9, 2011 at 5:13 AM
Judy Williams said...: UGH; March 9, 2011 at 6:17 AM
Who cares what I think? said...: I almost got hit by one of those work digger vehicles. It swung around when I was trying to get out of the McDonalds parking lot which took 40 minutes to actually get into. Several of the side streets were blocked off.

I do not have anything constructive to add other than make sure the city doesn't do something this stupid and poorly planned ever again. Whose boneheaded plan was this anyway? Did they have to destroy the whole street in the process? Couldn't they have done it in stages? The McDonalds employee said business was down at least 80%. Don't franchises close stores for these kinds of numbers? If this goes on for six to eight months, there will be nothing left of the Fair Oaks businesses.; March 9, 2011 at 7:29 AM
Margaret said...: Not even constructive words. #%&***!; March 9, 2011 at 7:37 AM
Anonymous said...: I will not drive Fair Oaks again, and thus will not shop there. It's impossible to get there and I've already had one piece of flying asphalt ding my car door. I'm just glad my window wasn't open. Who do I sue about that?; March 9, 2011 at 7:45 AM
Michelle said...: Like your photo shows, the detour signs make no sense. We all know how to get around here but if someone was trying to make an appointment and tried to follow the detour signs they'd just go around in circles or end up at Garfield Park.; March 9, 2011 at 7:47 AM
Judy Williams said...: Maybe this can break the sad, pissed off mood mood

Crazy Live; March 9, 2011 at 8:16 AM
Fryewerk said...: You can't tell where the driveways are at night. Tried and failed to get into Von's in the dark, had to go around the block. The pedestrian peninsulas they're building will cause through traffic to back up behind cars making right turns. It's poor a poor use of funds. The city would do much better to do something about the decaying gem that is the Rialto theater. Every day they let entropy continue, restoration becomes more expensive, and more unlikely.; March 9, 2011 at 10:29 AM
Trish said...: well, literally, the trench is open, the road is closed and the detours are confused.

actually, what I think SoPas is saying to the world is "we're closed, go away". so very sad.

a friend tried to visit a shop on FO the other day. not only could she not figure out how to get in or out or park, it took 45 mins to traverse what in even hideous traffic should have taken 10 at most. she gave up and went to Pasadena instead. Ooops, more tax dollars lost!; March 9, 2011 at 1:57 PM
Anonymous said...: This sucks!! not constructive was it?; March 9, 2011 at 3:09 PM
Anonymous said...: Saw your link off Twitter. I've lived here five years and never seen anything like this. A business owner on Fair Oaks told me he was told this might last until 2012. He said he might have to fold. What is the city trying to do in a bad economy, stab every last business in the back? Why are no officials offering explanations that aren't empty platitudes? This will cripple our city. Oh, but they're going to build more condos in the Mission District. Great. I am furious and the whole town should be furious, too. Without businesses, we are just a bedroom community to Los Angeles. Thanks, City of South Pasadena, for doing yet another destructive move.; March 9, 2011 at 3:46 PM
Johnny Brown said...: I am angry as hell, Laurie. I have nothing constructive to say. it is not like they are building something necessary. They are making traffic worse in the long run.; March 9, 2011 at 3:48 PM
Mister Earl said...: Remember all this at election time. I've had experience with Public works, which has dawdled on something I've tried to get them to do for 3 years, taking only half measures. Then we have a city council that was more concerned with playing politics by removing an excellent police chief solely for a political payoff and trying to pretend they didn't. This is a good town, but most of the people in charge are another matter.; March 9, 2011 at 3:53 PM
Anonymous said...: Mr. Earl, many of us think you should run for council. Keep speaking your mind here and elsewhere because residents need to remember what kind of people we are dealing with in city government. The Dan Watson thing was corrupt to the core. The Fair Oaks construction is small business homicide. Do these clowns ultimately want the 710 extension, too? How about tearing down all the old houses and building even more condos? Who are these people?; March 9, 2011 at 3:58 PM
Laurie Allee said...: Wow, I just checked in and see a lot of pissed off people. I get it. Jon tried to maneuver Fair Oaks today and it was a zoo. We're from the West Side, so we know traffic, but I've never seen such a ginormous MESS other than when the Northridge quake damaged streets in Santa Monica.

I am very worried about our city's economic health with the impact of this. If it is true that this will last 8 months, we're in serious trouble. Jon said that a business owner today on Mission had heard the same thing. At least 6-8 months.; March 9, 2011 at 4:01 PM
Trish said...: I'm not so pissed as I am confused how this is supposed to help SoPas? 8 months+ of FO and surrounding areas impassible will help SoPas income how? Will help the businesses in SoPas how? True SoPas residents work hard to support local small businesses but, even in the example I gave, a dear friend *tried* to keep biz in SoPas and couldn't. Think about all those folks from outside the city lines who may not come back after the construction is done---let alone how the "improved" construction will impede folks from getting to whatever businesses are left by the time 2012 rolls around.

While I'd suggest Mister Earl run, I'm not sure he needs that sort of tsuris. This is not a new problem in SoPas, but to the degree it is potentially bankrupting a really cool town, I'd suggest it is time for a change. Y'all have brought in Joe Payne--a name that has been around SoPas for years, time to bring back some of the other old names and have them clean things up? Ted, Bob...anyone, anyone?; March 9, 2011 at 5:23 PM
Mister Earl said...: Thanks anonymous. You should email me privately. Maybe you already know me. There is a belief that several of them want the 710 in one form or another. Ten voted for the latest resolution, but immediately hemmed and hawed about when his vote meant. The freeway fighters keep tabs on him because he often makes statements that are not the city's position. Other than Schneider, I don't trust any of them.; March 9, 2011 at 6:08 PM
Mister Earl said...: Trish - I think you've got it wrong about Payne. "We" didn't bring him in, the Council did, and it was part of a political payoff. I could easily prove this to a jury. Dan Watson was removed as chief for one reason: to make room for Payne. Payne knows what went on, and he was happy to take a job that he would not have had a chance to get in any other town.; March 9, 2011 at 7:09 PM
Trish said...: Mr Earl...didn't mean to suggest y'all brought him in, but that he's been around forever...that maybe the trend of having folks who have been around for a while, is a good thing. I know Ten b/c I know the restaurant, the rest are relative newbies, technically.

NOT suggesting that Dan shouldn't still be Chief---I'm not going to print what I think of THAT b/s, Laurie'd just have to delete my post. However, take away the situation the city created with Dan's ouster, let's say Dan "chose" to mosey on (cough, cough, b/s)---Joe has been around for eons, he knows the town, knows the players and their motives, he knows how he got there, knows how to play the game. Not saying the game is good, saying that given the situation, I'd think he's a better choice than someone getting hit blindside by all this mishegas. Too bad the mishegas was created.; March 9, 2011 at 8:45 PM
Jim said...: Judy, that is so wild, who knew Willie Nelson is old enough to have written a song for Patsy Cline in 1961? He's only seven years younger than my mom.
A bit of drama from Wikipedia:
"Nelson, who at that time was known as a struggling songwriter by the name of Hugh Nelson, was a regular at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge on Nashville's Music Row, where he frequented with friends Kris Kristofferson and Roger Miller, both unknown songwriters at that time. Nelson met Cline's husband, Charlie Dick, at the bar one evening and pitched the song to him ..."
Who could even make this stuff up: Charlie Dick? Tootsies Orchid Lounge?; March 9, 2011 at 9:04 PM
Cafe Pasadena said...: Is this part of the fed's America Reinvestment & Recovery act??; March 9, 2011 at 9:23 PM
a glimpses fan said...: I don't think we need old names from around town, certainly not if they're part of some payoff backdoor shenanigans. Where are the new candidates with new vision? That woman's group I read about on Patch wants to recruit new council candidates but I don't think they've done much. We all know Dan Watson getting fired was total bull based on the council but what about this Fair Oaks mess? Is the city getting kickbacks from contractors or something? Is that why they won't just say no to a 710 tunnel? I don't even know exactly what these funds are or why they have to be spent making Fair Oaks into an impassable mess. will someone please explain? I wish Pasadena Star News would cover this.

Thanks Laurie for giving all of us a forum to express our opinions.; March 9, 2011 at 9:51 PM
Laurie Allee said...: Welcome glimpses fan and all. I, too, wonder about this plan and who came up with it. Perhaps some officials will chime in here and let us know the official story. Or the unofficial one.; March 13, 2011 at 12:29 AM
Laurie Allee said...: Just a heads up to anyone subscribed to this thread. I'll have a piece on Fair Oaks in South Pasadena Patch either tomorrow or Thursday. Watch for it, and leave comments there!; March 15, 2011 at 10:55 PM
Cecilia Marie said...: ive lived in south pasadena since i was 4 my family has lived here for 30 and this is the worst thing since the whole 710 battle and then it was the tunnel idea OMG what are they thinking!!! i hate fair oaks so much; March 31, 2011 at 10:34 PM