Street fixes should get priority over Ballpark Way work

Journey north on Ballpark Way in Arlington from Interstate 30 and the roadway comes to an abrupt halt after a couple of miles at Green Oaks Boulevard.

Or at least the concrete part of Ballpark Way ends. The view northward clearly shows a wide, undeveloped swath heading downhill for the Trinity River and parts north. The right of way cuts through Arlington's poshest neighborhood, where a $400,000 appraisal would be considered mundane, and a million-buck abode not uncommon.

Ah, but therein is the sticky wicket. The swells who live in this particular outpost of prosperity -- many in gated neighborhoods -- understandably do not want this particular extension of Ballpark Way to be completed. Read more

[chris p]

the city of arlington never has, nor will they ever, give a hot damn about the true needs of the citizens of the city. there will always be some excuse not to do the right thing. when i left this city 15 years ago, arlington was getting a lot bigger at a rapid clip. all i heard was that as the city grew it would grow with the needs of the citizens coming first; it would not end up like a ft.worth or dallas. well, that didn't turn out right, did it?

[Amen]

WE now have the crime too....

Yes....dangle some shiny "toy" like a stadium or ballpark and the council's eyes glaze over....

You are exactly right....

Ive lived her over 30 years....its changed....and NOT for the better im afraid.

[Louise]

Its a city of over 350,000 people. When you live in a big city, with all of the big city problems, and not enough money to address those problems, you end up with a bunch of pissed-off citizens writing about how the city doesn't care about them.

And if they get a speeding ticket, they will complain about the police being too harsh, and if they have a criminal in their neighborhood, they will complain about the police not doing their job, and if they get a fine for emptying out their pool into the street, they will raise hell, and if they have a puddle in their street, they will call to complain about west nile, and if they have a neighbor with an unkept lawn, they will complain to code enforcement, but if they get a violation for their yard, they will write a letter to the mayor...etc...etc...ITS ALL A CONSPIRACY!! THE GOVERNMENT IS OUT TO GET YOU!!!

If you don't like it, vote. Its your city council, you put them there. Oh wait, no, only 1000 of you voted out of the more than a quarter million of you, and yet, all of you think you know how much money there is and where it should go.

And by the way, do you know how much time and money it takes to fix a road? Do you know that most of the city employees KNOW those areas need work and can't do anything about it, they have no money for a project like that, or their bosses tell them what projects will be done first. they have to do what their told, like every other employee in the world.

Its the powers that be that make those decisions, and you get to vote on that. Did you?