COVERSTORY

The Lowdown
On the real worst of Lexington the readers speak



TRAFFIC

Help Me

I think it goes without saying... that to mention Lexington, worst, and traffic would seem redundant. Spend an hour here and know that there cannot be anything remotely resembling "traffic engineering!" (unless of course this mess was planned!)

I have been here for over 30 years and I am constantly amazed at how things can get worse. As the population continues to grow (as witnessed the past 10 years), instead of increasing the ability to move more people (read: more traffic), no one has created ANY new ways to move traffic. (People might want to avoid hitting each and every traffic signal on Man O' War Blvd.)

However, once... I made it through one light but it was 3 am and I had no witnesses to verify the feat.

Cut down main thoroughfares from four lanes to two (Euclid) and consider other main "curves" (Vine St) to be closed ( or worse; some days closed some days open)? Where does this come from? Save us someone!

- Steve Belt

Left!!

I live near the Harrodsburg Road corridor, which has gotten steadily worse in the past couple of years, to the point that it's just as bad as Nicholasville Road! But the real bonanza has to be the timing of most LEFT TURN traffic signals! With the tendency of many drivers to be hesitant about moving when the thing turns green-arrow, you're usually lucky to get three or four cars through the intersection before the light starts to change. At most busy intersections, that amounts to a considerable wait in a long line of cars trying to turn left. This probably explains why "some drivers" DON'T stop when the light starts to turn red, with an average of two or three cars "running" the left turn signal. It also seems to lead to a lot of middle-finger pointing on the part of oncoming drivers - but not ME! Is this stuff computerized, or what?

-Albert E. Hoffman

Construction

The worst traffic problem is definitely the Nicholasville Road/Limestone disaster area. This area affects me directly as I used to drive this way to work and now must drive this way to class. Rose Street is closed and the building on the corner of Rose/Nicholasville makes ingoing traffic only one lane in the morning. This makes the trip take way too long. Then, as you get past that, they are constructing something in front of the B & E building which causes delays as well. THEN, the corner of Euclid and Lime is under construction to build a UK sign. THEN, the corner of Maxwell and Lime was under construction for the Huddle House. THEN, various parts of Lime have been closed due to the Courthouse construction.

QUESTION: Does everything on the same road need to be constructed at the same time?

-Tyler R. Mainous

REAL problems

Get over it Lexington, you don't have a traffic problem. You like to talk about traffic, but you don't have a traffic problem. Try visiting places like Chicago, Atlanta, or Boston; they have traffic problems.

Just because three soccer moms pull up in their SUVs at the same light on Man O War doesn't mean there is a traffic jam. If it takes you an hour to get to work and you only live seven miles from the office, you might have a traffic problem. The fact that you might have to wait through 2 or 3 lights at New Circle and Richmond Roads is not a real traffic problem.

No, friends, Lexington has no traffic problems except the ones the great minds from the road planning departments have created and they've created some beauties. For example, try exiting from New Circle east bound (or is that north at some point) at Nicholasville Road. You want to turn left at the next light; however, that requires getting across five lanes within about 50 yards just to make the turn lane. Then, dart across the oncoming four lanes and you're on your way. What genius thought that was a plan?

Of course, there are plenty of those big thinkers who tell us the solution to the "traffic problem" is more lanes. See how well it works on Nicholasville Road? You do see, don't you? Now let's cut to the chase and the real "problem."

We're in love with our car to paraphrase a popular song of old. Washington, D.C. has some of the worst traffic many Americans will ever see largely due to tourists; but, (brace yourself) you can get anywhere important within about 15 minutes while someone else drives. The excellent subway/light rail system is so good, people fly into National Airport and don't rent a car (gasp). They hop on the train and are at their hotel or appointment 20 minutes later. Forward thinking employers give their employees free train passes (but not parking vouchers). Imagine leaving Nicholasville (the town, not the road) and reliably being in downtown Lexington in 20 minutes. It can happen.

Chevy Chase to downtown in 5-6 minutes. It can happen. It does every day in places like D.C., Seattle, Toronto, and a few lucky parts of Atlanta. But Atlanta blew it. They gave in to the seduction of the shiny red convertible and BAM, the "outer loop" was born. Eight to 10 lanes of asphalt with no one going anywhere fast - not to mention the regular carnage at the hands of bad drivers. Wake up Lexington before it's too late.

You can have a model city or you can follow the failed plans of the many who have gone before. Cities from Cleveland to Charlotte missed the boat. We are told that those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat the mistakes; this is true for city planning as well.

Unless you plan to drive on the median, leave the SUV at home and demand viable, economical alternatives. But beware the naysayers and car mongers who will surely work hard to tell you "it can't be done," for they are the purveyors of asphalt, steel, gasoline, and road building contracts from the government.

Without the "traffic problem," politicians would have to start solving real problems and quit giving handouts to their buddies to build more roads. Thinking outside the box just might mean thinking outside the steel cage on wheels.

It also just might mean a better, more livable city.

-W. Eric Broviak

Worst traffic problem in Lexington

Too damn many Lexingtonians. Go back where ya came from, you're gummin' up the works!

But, seriously too many drivers act as if they're a) in Speedway City, so they ride your ass from light to light, or b) Podunk Corners, where you putt along in sylvan ease, even stopping in the middle of the street to chat with a neighbor who's on the sidewalk.

And I'm sure I'm not alone when I say TURN SIGNAL, TURN SIGNAL, TURN SIGNAL!!!

-Bill Widener

HOUSING

Give Us Your Poor...

The low income housing cock-up on the Northside... throw people out of their housing so you can tear it down and put up something better... only it either doesn't get built, or, when it is, it's unaffordable... sinister or stupid?

-Bill Widener

Public vs. Private

According to an April 19th poll, 60 percent of blacks think race relations in Lexington are poor. The survey offered a startling conclusion. The spokesman for the company that conducted the survey enlightens us: It appears that what side of Main Street you live on determines what kind of view you have of this community.

In 1999, the Charlotte Court housing projects were razed. There were 600 residents and 356 apartments. The apartments cost $174 a month. The residents were told to vacate by the summer, and Charlotte Court was reduced to a fenced-in empty lot by that winter. And where were they supposed to go in the meantime while they waited for the new, improved public housing that would replace their old homes as part of a generous Clinton-era program?

Better question: Why was public housing being replaced with private housing? Yes, the projects were torn down to build 95 owner occupied homes, and, oh, 200 units of public housing elsewhere in the city. Which is just shy of adding up. And more than that, the private homes would cost between $53,000 and $83,000 apiece. Of the 95, a grand total of 20 would be preserved for a Housing Authority home ownership program, the eligibility requirement for which is a $12,500 income.

The average income for a resident of Charlotte Court? $5,1000.

But it's okay. The city government had a heart. Under its power of eminent domain, the Housing Authority tore down a shopping center across the street from Charlotte Court, and on that site, they plan to put 8 units of low income housing. And what better place for 600 people to live.

The residents, at the time, feared that they wouldn't be able to find affordable housing and landlords who would accept federal Section 8 subsidies. Andy Slone, president of the Lexington Landlord Association, substantiated those fears, telling the Herald Leader that there probably was not room for a few hundred more families looking for low-priced housing.

Maybe he was joking.

In August 2000, it was revealed that five employees of the Lexington Division of Code Enforcement owned rental property. One supervisor, Vincent Scott, owned more than $1 million in property. Six of those properties he had purchased from that loveable little worrywart, Andy Slone. In all, 3 inspectors and one supervisor resigned, 2 more inspectors retired, and the director was transferred to Parks and Rec where he is probably now deciding how best to blow up Castlewood Park.

As of December 15 of last year, three inspectors had cited 2,205 housing violations at 488 houses.

And now, Lexington has its eyes set on tearing down the Bluegrass-Aspendale low income houses. Even though 60% would buy the houses they are currently living in if given the opportunity, and 40% would rather the places were renovated. Unfortunately, the miraculous Hope VI grant (and the federal government for that matter), don't seem to give out money for renovations. And the Lexington government doesn't have the money either. All anyone has the money for is blowing up more public housing. Admittedly, things being torn down does look cool.

And the plans for 668 unit Aspendale and its 335 residents? 220 to 240 single-family houses and duplexes. Most probably, all at the same prices as Charlotte Court. Which, for the record, on June 16, 2001 was finally given the go ahead for the construction of those little homes. The model homes, which will be used to sell the others and thus probably won't be occupied, should be ready by March of 2002. Which is almost in time for the people who were kicked out two years ago.

But, worry not. A collection of religious and community groups have raised $300,000 to assist with low income housing. Meanwhile, the Legends continue to pack 'em in.

And where will the 335 residents go? Maybe instead of ramming them into dilapidated apartments run by city bigwigs, we could do what we should have done a long time ago. In fact, the Webb brothers, our very own Frank Lloyd Wrights, creators of many a short-sighted (and empty) land developments around downtown, suggested it in the late 80s: Let's just ship them all out to Jacobson Park.

Reacting to the survey results that suggested (gasp) the city is divided, Pam Miller pointed out that only 7 percent of the respondents were black. As though the results would have gotten better the more people they interviewed.

Council member Bill Farmer said last December of the horrible conditions of housing on the north end: For some reason or the other, no one was that involved with code enforcement. Among the 15 of us, there wasn't anyone who'd gone to that division and spent any time.

Yes. That is odd. Imagine, a complete lack of awareness of half of the city you live in. But, to be fair, perhaps they were just too busy inspecting and enforcing the code violations on the south end of town. Or over at Greenbrier.

But, Bill, everything's okay. Part of the plan for Bluegrass Aspendale? Building a grand boulevard through the middle of all those nice new homes that are too expensive for the Aspendalers who can't afford more than $300 a month in rent. The purpose of the boulevard? To reintroduce the area to the community.

Notice it's the "area" we're reintroducing, not the two communities. And may we all be thankful for that.

-David Schankula

LEXINGTON'SWORST SCREW UPS

Bobby Houlihan
Bye bye Blades

While there are many options for this category, to me the worst screwup of the year was driving the Thoroughblades out of Lexington and into Cleveland. While Lexington Center director Bill Owen dismissed the average crowds of 3000+ as too small to dignify his arena, they are crowds larger than usually go downtown. And they went 40 nights a year, not 10 as they do for basketball games. The pissing contest between the Blades and Rupp was embarrassing and fruitless. Eventually, when it was too late to do any good, Rupp allowed a break in rent. The Blades waited until the last minute to do anything constructive to build up season ticket sales. They should have been more open about the crisis and begun soliciting for ticket sales early in the season if they truly wanted to save this team. The downtown businesses missed the boat on this one too, since it was in their best interest to not only keep those 3000+ people coming downtown, but to add to the number through promotions. As a result, many former ticket holders will no longer go downtown to spend their money. It also hurts tourism, since fans of teams from other states and Canada made regular trips, staying in local hotels, eating in local restaurants and visiting local tourist sites. As a result of this debacle, Lexington once again looks like a city that can not escape the label of backwater.

-Jeanmarie Rouhier-Willoughby

What superintendent search?

Last year's search for a new superintendent of public schools not only made Fayette county look bad, but it wore out every concerned parent in town. After interviewing prospective candidates from as far away as Texas, each one bringing their own resolutions for our troubled school system, and spending untold government funds on the process, the committee approves Robin Fankhauser?! Not only were parents surprised, but we got together in small groups and wondered why so much money was wasted on the process, if the committee knew they would approve her all along. With one school year under her belt, little has been done to improve school life for our children, scores are dropping, violence is becoming a more pressing issue, and the only difference apparent in Ms. Fankhauser's reign is that she is wearing better suits.

-Stephanie Hopewell

Scorched Earth

The damage done to Limestone... talk about destroying the village in order to save it...

-Bill Widener

WORST SCANDAL

Bankruptcy

The worst scandal of the year in the state of Kentucky has to be the bankruptcy of former governor Wallace Wilkinson.

A lot of people might vote for the UK football mess with Hal Mumme, but the bankruptcy of Wallace's ecampus.com is definitely worse.

The only people directly affected by the football scandal were the coaches, who more or less got themselves into the situation, and all received a rather large safety net when they were fired, chief among them Million dollar Mumme himself. When Wallace Wilkinson's business empire went belly up, REAL people lost their jobs. REAL people who did not have buyout clauses in their contracts. REAL people who did not do anything wrong. REAL people who we do not read about in the paper. People I know and people you know. As this drama unfolds, it once again shows the large difference between the haves and the have nots in the world.

-Kevin W. Faris

Searing Exposes

I just thought of another one for worst scandal!! When trying to decide what is the worst scandal in Lexington in the past year, I must refer to the local daily newspaper and the scandals they have recently uncovered.

In this case, there is a 3 way tie.

1. Freakin' at the prom: This front page exposé shined a light on what a lot of people like to ignore... Freakin'. The battle lines were drawn, as principals and parents faced off against horny teenagers who like nothing more than "backin' that ass up." In the end, the kids had their own dance out of the county and Kevin Bacon and his new best friend, the cowboy, who couldn't dance, ...oh wait... that was Footloose.

2. Senioritis: I was shocked! Shocked to open the HL one morning and discover that seniors in high school slacked off on work as the school year came to an end. This bombshell obviously required the daily to send a reporter in deep, deep undercover, à la 21 Jump Street, and place his own life in peril.

3. Where will Roger Harden's kid play basketball? This scandal was HUGE! It must have been because it was on the front page above the fold just last week. Surely nothing else happening in the entire freakin' world would warrant bumping a gossip story about an average high school basketball player who happened to be the son of a former UK player. Why stop here? Haven't you ever wondered how Sam Bowie's kids are doing in school? Surely Richie Farmer's kids, if he has any, have some stats we can read about. I have no doubt the HL is currently working on these stories.

-Kevin Faris

I'll Take Ohio

Here's a topic for you. How about the treatment one receives in Lexington's restaurants, businesses, and overall community? It stinks! I moved to Lexington after graduating from Morehead State University, thinking that maybe Lexington had something to offer.

I have found that it certainly does - a BAD ATTITUDE!

This medium sized city is a working man's town, nothing more. The "horse industry" is controlled by money from outside the Commonwealth, and most large horse farms are owned by people from outside the Bluegrass region.

Why is it, then, that every Lexingtonian has to see how much further he or she can stick their nose in the air than the next guy? This town amuses me with its small-mindedness and short-sightedness. UK? U who? A few basketball victories doesn't make any college the center of the universe.

This homogenized, by far WHITE population is arrogant enough to think that people don't still see Kentucky as a racist, backward state. And one more thing... this being THE MOST IMPORTANT part of my commentary... Stop trying to set yourselves apart from Eastern Kentucky and its inhabitants! These people are your families and your "kin!" Stop trying to act as though they are beneath you! I have never heard such hypocrisy in my life as when the subject of Eastern Kentucky comes up. You want to look at a map? This is the eastern part of the state! There are two hundred more miles of Kentucky to the west of us. From MacDonald's to Wal-Mart, from Keeneland to UK ball games, from Solid Platinum to Pure Gold (which is another story entirely, but I guess I need not mention the seedy underworld of Lex'ton. All one has to do is pick up the phone book and call any of the several "escort services" listed... hmmmm.... legalized prostitution... there's something well, maybe not really LEGAL, just okay with the established, good-ol-boy order of thangs here in Lex'ton). This town needs an enema!

And it's not all of Kentucky that I speak of... this is a beautiful state, filled with many fascinating things, but Lexington must learn its place!

Lexington's diverse, yet simple, population should try to learn how to be a big city before it acts like one. If it's too much to ask, then maybe they should all just move back to the hills of Eastern Kentuck, where they came from!

-Chris Gast

WORST MISTAKE BY LFUCG

Ain't easy bein' green

Allowing the space on Reynolds Road to be developed by yet another megastore... that part of town needed a park, not more parking...

-Bill Widener

WORST VOTING RECORD BY LFUCG

Don't mess with the Kentucky

I try to keep up, even try to watch the Council meetings on TV, but everybody, regardless of record, just blurs into a big boring boozhwah wad whitebread...exactly who ya need to dicker over sewage policy, I guess...let's say Crosbie, just because the little nerd made trouble for Fred Mills...

-Bill Widener

Let's Talk About Race

Reacting to an April survey that suggested (gasp) the city is divided, Pam Miller pointed out that only seven percent of the respondents were black. As though the results would have gotten better the more people they interviewed.

Council member Bill Farmer said last December of the horrible conditions of housing on the north end: For some reason or the other, no one was that involved with code enforcement. Among the 15 of us, there wasn't anyone who'd gone to that division and spent any time.

Yes. That is odd. Imagine, a complete lack of awareness of half of the city you live in. But, to be fair, perhaps they were just too busy inspecting and enforcing the code violations on the south end of town. Or over at Greenbrier.

But, Bill, everything's okay. Part of the plan for tearing down Bluegrass Aspendale? Building a grand boulevard through the middle of all those nice new homes that are too expensive for the Aspendalers who can't afford more than $300 a month in rent. The purpose of the boulevard? To reintroduce the area to the community.

Notice it's the "area" we're reintroducing, not the two communities. And may we all be thankful for that.

-David Schankula


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