Columnists
The streets
Ah, the streets of the County! Word on the street is, “the sexual assault didn’t happen.” Whisky Tango Foxtrot! What did happen?
In spite of the questions we have right now about the event of April 1 and 2, as a community we came together to support each other. As a community, we are talking about keeping ourselves, our families and our friends safe. As a community, we have reacted with all of our emotions, mostly in a good way. A person was taken to the hospital on the morning of April 2. We were told she had been seriously injured. This community rallied to support and share ways to be more aware of our surroundings and of situations that may not be healthy. Time will tell us the rest of the story of April 1 and 2.
And on another note, and speaking of streets, LOML has been seeing a medical specialist in Kingston. Three years ago, while running, he slipped, fell and tore his rotator cuff. These things happen. The problem was convincing his doctor there was a serious injury. It was a long process to get diagnosed. After waiting for two years, LOML finally had the diagnostic testing done and a referral was made to a surgeon in Kingston. To make a long story short, physiotherapy has been very helpful. However, because of the age of the injury, surgery is unlikely. Such is life.
On the plus side, we get off the island to make almost weekly trips to Kingston for physio appointments. While he’s getting worked over, I spend that hour or more walking along Princess Street, taking in the sights and spending a bit of cash. As I pick my way up and back along Princess, I have time to wonder when the H-E-double construction barriers the work will finally be finished. Perhaps, when the last retail outlet has closed its doors because of declining sales, the construction barriers will be removed. Who knows? Infrastructure projects on Princess Street have been ongoing since 2010. While much of the lower part of Princess Street has been opened up again, there is still a substantial closure up to Barrie Street.
Infrastructure repairs are costly, not just to the taxpayers, but also to the retailers. Infrastructure in Ontario often means digging up sewers and drains that could be deemed to be historically significant. Projects of this nature are invasive and take a lot of time. For consumers in Kingston, they’re such an inconvenience that Kingstonians have obviously asked, “Why shop downtown Kingston if I can head out to an outlet mall or shopping centre and not be bothered with hunting and pecking my way along narrow, fenced-in sidewalks and parking blocks away from my destination?”
What I’ve seen, over the months, is the ebbing eclectic energy in Kingston’s downtown. Retailers look exhausted and exasperated. At least a dozen Princess Street stores are closed, permanently, and boarded up. Only a hardy few shoppers and retailers are managing to tough it out, and many of the retailers aren’t sure they’ll make it to the end of 2016 when the road will, supposedly, be fully open. Infrastructure repairs are a necessary evil. With Kingston as an example, we need to stand back and take a good, hard look at what this community is going to be dealing with “in the long run.”
Currently, Main Street in Picton is closed to traffic from the top of the town hill to Ross Street. Until the summer tourist season hits, drivers are using detours around that zone. Our infrastructure repairs took too long to happen. We have, in the past, been saddled with one elected official or another who was in power because of their “let’s not spend taxpayers’ money” platform. And here we are, up to our ankles in mud, sewage and runoff. We’ll get a break during the summer season and then be back at it in the fall. Don’t abandon your favourite downtown establishments. Dig out the rubber boots (or buy a pair locally) and have a downtown Picton adventure. It’s like a “Tough Mudder” for local spending.
Remember, Picton is, perhaps, just the start. I’m fairly certain other locations within our community are on the radar for fix-ups and repairs. Keep thinking, and shopping, local. And be aware and safe on the streets.
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