PARKING, POT, MORE ARE PROBLEMS

When I'm driving around Missoula or walking in my neighborhood, I have
thoughts about things that need to be changed or cause some of us to
be irritated. I'm talking about local issues or things people do that
ruin our city's appearance, make it unsafe or just aren't fair.

Something that frequently bothers me is the way people park in parking
lots. I usually look for a spot where I can fit into the space
provided and have easy access getting in and out of the car. When I
come out of a store, it's not unusual to find someone has parked next
to me over the line and I can't get inside my car without difficulty.
A few times I've left a note on the other car complaining about their
parking. Worse than that is a large pickup parking at an angle taking
up two parking spaces.

Then we have the people who are so lazy they can't take their shopping
carts back to the store or leave them in a space provided. How often
have you been unable to park in a spot because a shopping cart is left
sitting there? Totally inconsiderate, I'd say.

Why would anyone want to legalize marijuana? Do we really need more
drug-saturated people driving on our streets or living next door? No
matter what anyone says, weed alters the mind and smoking a lot of it
changes all sensible and normal thinking and reasoning. Crimes that
have occurred since medical marijuana was legalized in our state,
shows me that our courts, police and government have added another
form of criminal and social problems to our already overburdened
system. The name medical marijuana does not impress me, but instead
opens more doors for breaking the law and makes us all less safe.
Isn't drunken driving enough to deal with in Montana. Think about
someone driving who is not only drunk but using pot.

When I moved to Missoula, I was surprised by the number of people
using the sidewalks for a bike path. I always thought sidewalks were
designed for pedestrians. How did the casual cyclist decide it's for
their use? One of my neighbors who is visually impaired likes to walk
for health reasons, but has to use the familiar route of a nearby
sidewalk. Twice she has been hit and knocked down by a careless
cyclist. It's common when coming out of the Missoula Senior Center to
jump back to avoid a speeding cyclist who is using the sidewalk for
their path. Many times when I've been walking and two to three young
people on bikes approach me on the sidewalk, I refuse to move over for
them to pass. I've been called names and sometimes threatened. Never
have I seen a policeman tell a cyclist that he is not supposed to be
riding on the sidewalk.

Missoula has a large number of cars and trailers parked in front of
houses or apartments for weeks or months. In some areas, they are
permanently parked or abandoned. This is a major problem and ruins the
look of a neighborhood and takes up available parking places. Along
with the use of streets for storage of vehicles is the problem of
people dumping trash, furniture and garbage in an alley or sometimes
in a front yard. This is dangerous, unsightly and takes up needed
space. If there are laws on the books, I don't think they are enforced
and this makes our city less desirable and less safe.

I hope you are someone who cares enough to call the local city offices
if someone is destroying your neighborhood or using the streets for
storage. The phone number for illegally parked cars is 552-6293 and
for trailers it's 552-6300. The number for illegally dumped trash is
258-4755. If you have specific issues, you may have to ask for other
phone numbers.

I would love to hear from you if you have similar thoughts.

I live here because I love the natural beauty and scenery of Missoula
and hate to see it destroyed or damaged by people who just don't care.
It doesn't hurt to pick up trash when walking or do anything possible
to keep our city and streets clean and uncluttered. What do you think?