Walking in Memphis

is an oxymoron. The city is not set up for walking. There are sidewalks most places, but they are broken or cracked into impossibility, or there are sign or telephone poles smack in the middle of them.

Then there are the drivers. Today I walked to a store instead of driving (gas prices, you know). Twice I was almost hit - the worst was when a lawn-care truck with a trailer cut across a gas station parking lot without slowing down. I had to actually jump back out of the way of the trailer, which followed the pickup truck over the curb. Another time, the minimal sidewalk was blocked by utility sawhorses, forcing me into the street. The sawhorses protected recently poured concrete sidewalks....firm now these last 2 weeks.

I have said it before, Memphis is full of selfish people. They won't yield an iota to anybody, despite seeing need. Handicapped spaces? Closer to the store, screw the people that need them. And despite being constantly ranked one of the unhealthiest cities in the country (obesity is rampant, from toddler age up to early-death), there is nothing being done to improve walking areas, bicycling areas, etc. Mainly because there is major money in diet centers, medical care for obesity (which accounts for a large number of handicapped tags) and such, but no money to be spread among politicians to support health.

Last week, two teens drowned in city pools. The buck was passed from the director of aquatics to the director of parks, to the spokesperson for the mayor. Nobody could give information on how many lifeguards there were, if the pools were in compliance with regulations on lifeguards, etc. Mayor never showed his face. Same thing with violent crime, assaults or accidents involving police - invisible mayor. But recommendations to cut school funding - front and center!