Gripe Vine Readers:
A recent Gripe Vine column published a request for signage on the Boardwalk requiring face masks. I am looking into this matter. Watch my next column to see if this request was received and completed.
Gripe Vine Readers:
If you recall reading in my latest column, a resident who complained of spiral growth of bamboo plants at her home on Jones Hill Road. The overgrowth of this plant is found at the back of this reader’s property, which is adjacent to Seth Haley’s Soccer Field.
This reader had complained to the city to no avail. Gripe Vine had contacted other Councilmen and women in the area and to date have not heard from them. I forwarded this complaint to Councilman Barry Lee Cohen, who offered to help this reader to success, even though this is not his district. A THANK YOU to Councilman Cohen. Although correspondence was directed to Councilman Cohen indicating he did not respond to this complaint, the request was sent in error.
I received the following reply from Councilman Robert Bruneau relating to the reader’s complaint of overgrown Bamboo plants growing in his yard from the Seth Haley Soccer Field: His comments arrived at deadline:
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
I take this job very seriously and take care of all constituents’ complaints I am made aware of. I initially called the city’s tree contractor and Public Works. Bob Herrington went out and didn’t see the issue from the school side of the yard. I have now gone out there with Mr. Herrington to the actual house and he has been made aware of the situation and will see what can be done. There is not an easy remedy to rectify this problem but all necessary departments are now aware and we will go from there to see what can be done.
Dear Councilman Bruneau:
Thank you for your prompt reply. However, you mentioned you take your job seriously. I would like you to know I take this job seriously as well. I have written Gripe Vine for the West Haven Voice 17 years this coming January. I receive each complaint no matter how large or small with diligence and care. Please let me know when this Bamboo problem is solved.
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
When will the pot holes be filled on Plainfield Avenue ?
Patient Resident
Dear Patient Resident:
According to Councilman Peter Massaro, the pot holes will be done this week. Please let me know if they were..
Dear Eleanore Turkington:
The entire street of Beach Street is rampant with speeding. The problem is that there is too little enforcement of the speed limit. Whether going west to east or east to west people are using Beach Street as a high speed by-pass through the city to avoid other parallel routes that have stop signs and lights .
Beach Street has neither or its entire stretch. Because it has long straight sections, its an invitation in the absence of a police presence a deterrent, to floor it and that’s exactly what those of us who actually witness the driving on this street. Its understandable that the police department would not be privy to these facts, they’re never there.
Last year there were at least three incidents where drivers heading west and ignoring the stop sign at Beach and Washington crashed into the guard rail at the entrance to the condos there. None of these incidents were caused by ice.
Crossing Beach Street at any of the sidewalks is as gamble too because many of the drivers feel they own the road, despite state law that demands that they yield to pedestrians at crosswalks.
However, I am not sure that speed bumps are the best solution. There are design changes so called “traffic calming measures” such as undulations in the road that would also leave room for metered parking spaces that would force drivers to slow down. This would have the ancillary benefit making better use of the excessive width of the road by putting in a multi-use bike/walk path where we currently have a sidewalk just wide enough for people walking in both directions. But trumped as a bike/walk path, and often the sight in warmer weather of confrontations between pedestrians and cyclists who feel they own the space.
Tired of the speeding, AB
Dear Tired:
I am forwarding a copy of your complaint to city officials. Let’s hope the violations you described will be curtailed.
Gripe Vine Readers, I would like to place a reminder in today’s column of West Haven’s Boot Law. For those who aren’t familiar with this ordinance, city officials say West Haven Residents who are delinquent on their taxes are urged to pay their overdue taxes as soon as possible. There is a “Boot Program” in West Haven that has resumed and you can risk your vehicles being immobilized with a wheel-locking boot.
Readers, you can send your gripes, comments, issues to me at [email protected] or mail them to Gripe Vine c/o West Haven Voice 840 Boston Post Road, West Haven 006516. You can also submit through our online form.