"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Wednesday 19 August 2015

WHO IS THE BAD GUY IN THIS SCENARIO?

My street is fifty-five years old. It has ditches and culverts, gravel shoulders, no boulevards, curbs or sidewalks and poor lighting. Two  neighboring streets are the same urban-rural character. Streets built  fifteen/twenty years later with sidewalks,boulevards,street trees ,storm sewers curbs and gutters and adequate lighting in  the north/east quadrant have been re-constructed several years ago. 

Several years ago I was informed my street is not due for re-construction until 2016. I had inquired. 
A map had to be referenced to discover location. By some standards ours is a heritage neighbourhood.. There are no sidewalks, children on th way to school in winter have to share the often icy right-of-way with vehicular traffic. No sidewalks mean no sidewalk plowing. No boulevards,no snow stored off the right-of-way. Spring-time street cleaning with a machine raises clouds of choking dust off the soft shoulders. Snow-plowing often seems like an after thought. 

This week I received a letter from Canada Post informing me keys to my mail box would be delivered to my house by a certain date. If my preference is to pick them up at a post office  a phone number is provided to name the place. 

If I need special accommodation because of mobility issues,  a phone number is provided to make arrangements. 

I am content Canada Post intends to meet the commitment to deliver my mail. 

I am not confident the town has the same commitment. 

Ditches, lack of sidewalk, boulevard or curbs are not unlikely to make my mailbox accessible in an otherwise handy  location. 

We shall see. 

I do not anticipate payment of a fee of $50. to the town to make a difference. 


9 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is going to be interesting because the town has placed itself in like for the complaints which are inevitable. The fee, as you have pointed out, may not cover all contingencies. Another idea not thought out before putting into effect,

Anonymous said...

Do we even know where the boxes are to be planted ?

Anonymous said...

For those with mobility issues (such as the elderly) Canada Post will continue home delivery, if requested, after the implementation of the new community mailboxes. The catch is that the delivery will be only once a week.

Anonymous said...

That's easy, the Bad Guy is Canada Post.

Anonymous said...

00:16
Oh, yeah, and our big brave council took them to the mat. Not.

Anonymous said...

Some of the areas are going to be a real challenge to them. It should be fun to watch and to hear the howls if someone takes offence. Which will happen.

Anonymous said...

The money Council receives from Canada Post does not cover the cost of wrangling over the issue.

Anonymous said...

So what? Canada Post is a Crown Corporation. Do you really think that this municipality (or any for that matter) is going to derail the process?

If they get enough push back for Community Mail Box locations, they will contract some more and have everyone go to a local post office facility to pick up mail. Much easier solution.

Anonymous said...

It was a silly diversion issue.