Dear Gripe Vine Readers:
Its’ been quite a year hasn’t it with all the traumatic happenings in our lives, including Covid 19, booster shots, school closings, high grocery prices and national and worldwide occurrences?
Readers living in West Haven have had the opportunity this year, to air their local complaints in Gripe Vine
Thanks to the West Haven Voice, Gripe Vine has been able to connect gripes and questions, through their district councilpersons who have stepped up to provide residents with improvements in a number of areas. It is hoped their continued cooperation will serve West Haven taxpayers with satisfaction.
Back in January of this year readers complained n of speeding on Campbell Avenue, motorists ignoring pedestrian crosswalks and new laws that prohibit opening r car doors while the vehicle is moving.
The baseball field near the old Chick’s Drive In received complaints of neglect because of careless dog owners, Potholes on Captain Thomas Boulevard were reported, Ward Heitman Museum inquires, malfunctioning traffic lights and graffiti covered and missing stop signs.
Reports came in of cars without handicap licenses parking in city parking lots, blighted property on White Steet, traffic congestions at Kelsey, Main, Elm and Wagner Street., Brown Street mangled sidewalks, two lane merging at Campbell Avenue and overgrown trees on Blohm Street.
Quite a number of complaints referring to out of towners license plates displayed and questions on tax responsibilities. West Haven’s Boot Law, abandon house on Rockdale Road, dogs on Jessie Drive and numerous broken sidewalks questioned.
My readers complained of bulk trash pickup, wishes for a local transfer station, removal of Church Street potholes sand Sawmill Road and Greta Street blight.
Lids were requested for public traffic barrels to discourage birds from digesting trash, suggestions arrived to encourage the city to start charging for blighted houses and complaints of illegal parking at the high school baseball field. A reader complained of “too early” trash pickups, am snowplow gripes of not using alternate side plowing.
Readers complained of homeless people sleeping under the beach bridge and on the beach and a reader griped about her neighbor placing out of town trash for local pick up. I also heard from readers who complained of lights being out on the Green.
Readers complained of landscapers mowing lawns too early in the morning, while a dangling street sign was called to Gripe Vine’s attention. Another gripe I was asked to investigate was an empty lot on Plainville Avenue that was unsightly, covered with overgrown grass and bushes. Readers complained of lack of maintenance on Hazel Street, a delayed fireworks complaint landed on my desk and readers complained of illegal parking at the beach, resulting in an improved method of parking.
Bocci Court players wanted more trash containers, Gripe Vine readers weren’t too happy about the raised electricity prices and complaints arrived relating to the lack of face masks on the senior citizen bus, Porta A Pottieswere requested for more areas and suggestions came in to turn the “blighted areas” near Washington Avenue be used for a Pickle Ball Court.
Readers complained of cars flying through a school bus stop at Enright Street, crumbling road conditions at Hillcrest Avenue, and Greta Street, poor pond conditions reported at Ocean Avenue and Pond Street while readers complained of roads in poor shape at Park Circle and Savin Avenue. A resident also . complained of numerous cats in the Valleybrook neighborhood.
Many complaints referring to discarded junk on an empty lot on Stevens Street, motorists running through a red light at Gilbert Street, a report of an abandoned car on the sidewalk at the corner of Peck and William and a request not to paint a fire hydrant on Kelsey Street yellow because the reader wanted it to be kept ed white and blue in honor of 911.
A complaint questioning the removal of the Farmer’s Market to the shoreline area and a request to improve road conditions on Fay Street because of the flooding of a residence here.
Readers, this is just a sampling of gripes that arrived and happily, most of them were repaired, replaced or reported to the correct departments.
Happy Holidays and a Healthy New Year!
Eleanore Turkington