Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Jed - land war diplomat
Come and listen to a story about a man named Jed, public servant. You may have your next newsworthy land battle here...who can say. Our department had an order to border off a piece of public land that was being used for parking illegally. We were to border off with a standard bollard and cable set up like other parks this tiny parcel of property that has an old swing set for neighborhood use. See the area pictured below (thanks Google Maps). The city keeps and maintains several micro-parks where their is no real usefulness for the land, but it wants to give the neighborhood a value added feature. Parks like this do not have a dedicated name they are simple right of ways that just exists in odd angles and between split streets. This one is a good sized one that folks have started using for parking since almost all of the houses were zoned commercial.
(click image for larger)
Despite efforts to control this with posted signs people keep parking there. All of the businesses that operate in the once housing subdivision have enough parking behind them (see map). People prefer to park in the middle for easy access. Anyway we started auguring yesterday to put in bollards and caught much attention with the businesses. About half were thankful and half were angry about the process.
One fella (some sort of psychologist) was really raw about it because we asked him to move his SUV from the lot. He kept asking, "why?" I said, "because we are going to enclose the property with a simple park fence." He said, "why?" I said, "because we have our orders." He said, "why?" I said, "it is what we do for the parks and recreation department." He said, "why?" I was sensing (at this point) he was the psychologists that I had asked a receptionist to ask her people that were parked there to move, she assured me she would ask the Dr. when he was out of session, I answered, "why not?" Knowing the bits of logic I got at community college that this would close the hopeless logic loop we were in.
I told him to call 311, or his area council person, but we were going to have to keep working. I alerted my boss and he said, "stay on task until further notice."
Today at lunch the boss called and said stop. This should be interesting.
It can't make matters worse to carry on until further notice.
(click image for larger)Despite efforts to control this with posted signs people keep parking there. All of the businesses that operate in the once housing subdivision have enough parking behind them (see map). People prefer to park in the middle for easy access. Anyway we started auguring yesterday to put in bollards and caught much attention with the businesses. About half were thankful and half were angry about the process.
One fella (some sort of psychologist) was really raw about it because we asked him to move his SUV from the lot. He kept asking, "why?" I said, "because we are going to enclose the property with a simple park fence." He said, "why?" I said, "because we have our orders." He said, "why?" I said, "it is what we do for the parks and recreation department." He said, "why?" I was sensing (at this point) he was the psychologists that I had asked a receptionist to ask her people that were parked there to move, she assured me she would ask the Dr. when he was out of session, I answered, "why not?" Knowing the bits of logic I got at community college that this would close the hopeless logic loop we were in.
I told him to call 311, or his area council person, but we were going to have to keep working. I alerted my boss and he said, "stay on task until further notice."
Today at lunch the boss called and said stop. This should be interesting.
It can't make matters worse to carry on until further notice.
:: posted by Tennessee Jed, 8:23 PM
5 Comments:
tiz amazin how sum folks thank thar selfish deesires should trump everbidy elses.
I think "because" would've worked better than "why not". It would've shown him who's boss!
I am not the boss at all, I have to follow my instructions.
I am trying to find out what is going on with this little road island it is still shut down.
I am trying to find out what is going on with this little road island it is still shut down.
How about 'Because God has ordained this great nation tto distribute power as it sees fit, and it has seen fit to give this municipality the power to regulate it's own properties by way of the parks and recreation department. Lo, for it is written: Thou canst not fight City Hall".
At least that might help you from wanting to slap the geek.
At least that might help you from wanting to slap the geek.
Folk Face, I work for the city, not Dick Cheney and Junior Bush. I never wanted to slap him just let him know I did not take my direction directly from him.
By the way it looks as if the people have spoke and the majority of them want a green space instead of a parking lot. So we are back to the original task as specified by the work order.
By the way it looks as if the people have spoke and the majority of them want a green space instead of a parking lot. So we are back to the original task as specified by the work order.
