A disabled Bethlehem resident who gets everywhere he needs to go on foot addressed City Council Tuesday night on the topic of water access. This should be quite important in a city that is trying very hard to be both pedestrian and bicycle friendly. We need it to survive, especially when temperatures climb.
This resident told City Council that if he enters a business to ask for a cup of water, they often will provide it. But he observed that some places will tell him to leave. He added that this is unlike Arizona, where he claimed incorrectly that it is illegal to deny someone a cup of water. His main complaint, however, is that many of Bethlehem's water fountains are inoperable. He asked if the City could do something.
"Water access to me is just a basic right," observed Council member Rachel Leone. She said she is working with Public Works Director Michale Alkhal to restore service in the parks.
Alkhal stated the City has 19 water fountains, of which only 5 or 6 actually work. He said the others have fallen into disrepair over the years. He added there is little demand for them, they are difficult and expensive to maintain and are often vandalized. "We've been revisiting that," he acknowledged.
Mayor Willie Reynolds said "it's a completely legitimate thing for us to look at." He indicated a meter has been installed at one of the working fountains so the City can determine actual demand. He said the City would never turn anyone away who requests water.
"This isn't something I really honestly gave a ton of thought to, said Council President Michael Colon.
It would be preferable to plastic bottles in a City with a climate action plan.
Your last sentence made me laugh. Willie likes to use all the buzz words and phrases, but a city can’t have a climate action plan when it is shoving as many people as it can onto a parcel of land. As much as people may want us to be a NYC, Jr., Bethlehem is a small city and people should have elbow room, not some apartment dwellers balcony in their backyard. Willie is a dope.
ReplyDelete6:07, I see nothing wrong with density in some urban areas and using every inch you can. Not the entire city, but in some areas it might be appropriate. But your comment is off topic, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteOff topic? I challenge you to ride your bicycle along the towpath in Bethlehem. Just be prepared, remember to bring yourself some bear mace and that is not for the big furry animal. Unfortunately there is much crime along with filth and disgust along the towpath. This is not to say that the homeless are not human beings but it is a fact that the homeless population has increased tremendously since Willie started his affordable housing debacle along with his desire to help the homeless. Us non lefters do realize it is all mush mouth for future votes.
DeleteThis makes more sense than those college and high school girls who think access to tampons has suddenly become an impossible hurdle and undue hardship and thus, schools and colleges must provide them. But, public water fountains do get abused and vandalized so it would require some effort by the city to deter that and keep them in working order.
ReplyDeletelol I think it’s even funnier when the require tampons in the men’s bathroom. Honestly though, I never gave the water access much thought. The fountains do get vandalized, but this gentleman does bring up a legitimate issue.
DeleteDon't drink the water! I seem to remember an article in the local rag year ago claiming bedlums water had p2p dumpped in it?
ReplyDelete"A disabled City resident"
ReplyDeleteSo, PC of you. Does he have a city address? If not, he is a bum. A tent on the towpath or under the bridge does not make him a resident. Maybe a bridge troll but not a real resident. Taxpayers should not have to fix and maintain public water fountains for hobos. The public toilets in th library are enough. The place is a pig sty already.
My description of this city resident has nothing to do with being PC, If I wanted to be PC, I would have referred to him as differently abled. He is a city resident who lives with his mother and his disabled. He was nervous and did not identify himself. He seemed like a very nice person, unlike you.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately it will cost $82,000 to install a $2000 water fountain, and $36,000 to make repairs to one that cost the same.
ReplyDelete