Michael Zivko Jurkovic: Make Modesto more pedestrian friendly
Downtown is definitely in need of change. When 101 Street was "opened" it was a mistake. Any thriving downtown worldwide – from nearby Turlock to international cities such as London – walking spaces are needed. This common sense idea was reaffirmed when business owners on J Street indicated this would be beneficial. Sadly, it is interesting and telling about the city that per admission of some on J Street, many would rather drive two or three blocks than walk them. Is it the car culture? Is it the homeless?
Personally, in all my years of driving, the library parking is most convenient. It is free and provides two hours of daytime convenience. I enjoy walking and taking the quarter mile walk from the library to Preservation Coffee or other destinations. Sadly, given the mayor's "100 day suggestion" to privatize as much as possible (hint: it hasn't worked on a national level for the past 40 years) I expect the city to not listen to the business owners or concerned citizens. It's been a lifelong frustration that when the populace has common sense solutions, downtown rarely listens, regardless of mayor. Modesto, please prove me wrong.
Michael Zivko Jurkovic, Modesto
This story was originally published July 27, 2016 at 3:39 PM with the headline "Michael Zivko Jurkovic: Make Modesto more pedestrian friendly."