I found today’s letter to the editor on the bottom of page 27 in the Daily Times amusing as Ms. Pennington from Aston considers Chester trashy and finds it unusual that people walk in the streets with no regard for cars.
People who live in Chester take the trash and street walking for granted and have done nothing to curb either activity.
Check out the SURVEY RESULTS from November 2011 to see how low trash and street walking rank.
It certainly contributes to our image problem, but who cares other than the outsiders who feel sorry for Chester.
Click HERE to read Ms. Pennington's letter
I do not view her comment as being offensive. It's true! That is her perception and reality, she is correct. There are an overwhelming amount of residents that use the street as their 'sidewalk'. You could sit at any area in the city and count the people who walk near the curb (sidewalk), or directly inches away in the street. I too have had to brake for these persons, and yes, sometimes with little ones in tow, either in or out of strollers.
ReplyDeleteAs far as trash, take a good look at the entrance to the city. How about directly off of the Highland Ave.exit. DEPLORABLE!!DESPICABLE!!
This is our 'welcome' into our city? Overgrown grass, trash.
Now instead of continuing into the city from this direction, make a sharp left over the bridge past the untidy cemetary and tell me what you see - a well cared for (by the residents no less) area - Ms. Pennington's Aston Township. So what is the big deal about her comment? Stop supporting outsiders views of our city! Prove them wrong! Clean Up!!
Need I say more???
In the walkers defense, we do have some bad sidewalks around town. A couple years ago I got a local guy to fix the sidewalk in front of my house. After the work was complete, the City of Chester hit me up for a permit fee. Sure, the guy should have known to get the permit before doing the work, but the other part of me thought the city should be thanking me instead of fining me.
DeleteTrash...that's a whole different matter. It amazes me to watch grown people drop trash to the ground like it's biodegradable. It's a mental thing. A trash can on every corner won't even make a difference.
The walkers should be on the sidewalks and if they are that bad, the city officials should be doing there job and making sure they are fixed and if it is not the job of the city to fix them have the home owners fix them. It is horrible to be riding during the dusk hours and almost hitting a woman walking down edgmont with a baby stroller.
DeleteIf Chester wants to do better than they can they just have to enforce the rules and make sure homeowners are taking care of their properties. I bet their is someone on the city payroll responsible for this.
Also the parks are a mess. The grass near the creek in Chester park is so high that it makes it even more dangerous to walk along the new path.
THE GRASS IS NOT THE ONLY THING OVERGROWN... YOU CAN BARELY WALK ON SOME OF THESE SIDEWALKS BECAUSE THE TREES ARE OVERGROWN. WHEN I CAME TO THIS CITY OFF OF 95; I WAS LIKE, "YOU TELL WE IN CHESTER LOOK @ THE HOUSES, CHURCHES, AND OTHERS BUILDING ALL WORN DOWN AND BOARDED UP, NOT TO MENTION THE TRASH AND STILL TODAY THESE BUILDINGS STILL LOOK THE SAME AND THE TRASH IS SILL EVERYWHERE...I HAVE SOME FAITH THAT THINGS WILL IMPROVE I KNOW IT TAKES TIME..
DeleteHaving worked for over 20 years in the City of Chester, I have watched the younger generations seem to lack in responsibility. Many people, when waved to safely cross the street in front of me take their time to get to the other side of the road...as I patiently wait. It is rare for me to see someone actually acknowledge the fact that I stopped to allow them to go. I see people cross the street at a traffic light and it is red for them, but they proceed to walk into traffic, which stops to allow them to cross - and they take their time. Why do people feel "entitled" these days? A simple wave of the hand or a nod of the head would be nice. I think that if the people of Chester would like respect that they should act respectable. It doesn't cost a cent. Maybe if the people of Chester would acknowledge that we are all the same...black/white/hispanic/asian/male/female/handicapped/etc. I believe with all of my heart that the City of Chester can be better place if everyone showed each other respect...and smile a little bit morel
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 12 years old, I got a stern warning from a Washington D.C. police officer who would have given me a ticket for jaywalking if I hadn't been from out of town.
DeleteD.C. may still be the only city that enforces jaywalking.
I live in Chester and have had some bad exzperiences with some of the kids mostly young men walking and riding their bike right out in front of my car and oher cars. When you say something about getting outing out thge street thgey look @ you like you'rr crazy(as if they are right and you are wrong) I have even been cursed out. So I try to make it my business not to even ride that way again especially since most of the times I have my kids in the car with me. Some of these young men will ride their bike right in front of you and you have to at times hit your brakes. They have no respect for others and I get the impression they have little for themselves. Whats that saying, Chester Is What Chester Makes".. someone please correct me if I worded that wrong. But if this is so; Lord help us!!! Don't get me wrong there are good people here but then there are those. No wonder we are being bashed from outsiders, think about it; some have good reson even though we should not judge, but everybody has a right to their OWN OPINION. This City CAN BE A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE.. WE ALL MUST WORK TOGETHER AND GET ALONG... GOD BLESS US ALL
ReplyDeleteI'm a biker and I ride through Chester almost everyday. I try to stay on streets with hardly any traffic but when I am in traffic I follow the rules of the road.
DeleteI've got to watch for cars, people, and some of those other bikers who don't follow the rules.
I could do a post on how many cars in Chester have no respect for bikers but since we don't have any designated biking lanes, I just stay on the lightly traveled streets - which there are plenty around here - wear brightly colored clothes, and keep my helmet on.
not so long ago...some folks in chester were complaining on the c-city blog that it was insulting that harrah's were adding the name "philadelphia" to their name.!
ReplyDeletenow the blog is about walkers in the street, trash everywhere..noted by a outsider!!
do the majority of chester residents really care about their city and how it looks??
who is insulting who???
crime city?? top 5 in the nation!!!
Outsiders always have to add personal opinions or there would be no need to blog. Ms. Pennington is right about people walking in the streets and not giving a thought to the dangers of their actions. Yes, many are rude and obnoxious ;if you blow at them they (not all) make foul, real foul comments and give you oh so glowing looks(ha,ha). Im always wondering why people are walking in the street in areas where the sides walks are straight and there is no trash or visible danger. It seems to me that it has become habit from areas that impose dangers: tree roots lifting sidewalks, lots of trash, landlords discarding peoples belongings to the curbs, viscious looking animals on porches with no leashes, and .........
ReplyDeletePrayer and lots of prayers for our city and our world.
True. The sidewalk isn't always the issue. But if they're walking more than a few blocks, chances are there's going to be a crazy sidewalk along the way. I think folks walk the street to have a consistantly smooth surface as they go from point A to point B. They feel they're just as entitled to be in the street as car.
DeleteFor those pushing strollers, I definately understand. But, it's still not safe.
GANG BANGers alSo walk the streets in a military formation they are ready for ambush at all times..... Pretty nerve racking what a way to live. There is hope and I hope these young kids find it.......
ReplyDelete