Slow Down

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished!
By  DI Staff

As reported only in the Dixon Informer, a dog was killed by a speeder on Brians Way. Speeding on this street has been an issue for years. The residents are concerned because Brians Way is by Patwin Park and Tremont Elementary is within 0.4 miles. Children living in this area walk to Tremont Elementary by crossing Brians Way, and funnel through Sequoia Way to the school. Also, children walk to Patwin Park to play.

The area residents asked their council member representative Kevin Johnson to ask the council to do something about this speeding issue. Johnson asked to have it put on the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) agenda for discussion and recommendation. (The TAC meeting will be this Wednesday April 17th at 7:00pm at City hall.)

Looking at the TAC agenda, the item of concern is listed on the agenda as a Verbal Update on Brians Way Inquiry, which means no action can be taken, such as a vote by the TAC members to make a recommendation to the council. Additionally, typical of Dixon when they know there will be a crowd, they put the item of interest as the last item on the agenda and then drag the meeting on as long as they can. They love to discourage people from attending by making people think it will be a long meeting. I wonder if Kevin Johnson, their city council representative will be at the TAC meeting to speak on behalf of his constituents. You want to bet he will not be there?

Police appearance in the area was also recommended by the neighbors to catch the speeders. A police officer arrived but instead of worrying about the people speeding on Brians Way, he approached a group of area residents that meet at Patwin Park with their dogs and allow them to play in the grass area. The officer told them “your dogs have to be leashed … it’s a city ordinance and if the dogs aren’t leashed you, will be fined.”

According to one of the residents “all the dogs are very friendly and have fun chasing balls and each other. The dogs are having fun and the neighbors are visiting with each other. What’s wrong with that?”

After that incident not much police presence has been noticed in the area. The speeders are speeding. Residents are doing the job of the police. They are installing cameras that can calculate the speed and take photos of the car license plates. If a kid or a dog is hurt in this area by speeding cars the City will have a big lawsuit on their hands. In other words, WE, the Taxpayers will pay for the City’s negligence.

It’s obvious in Dixon “No good deed goes unpunished.” The residents on Brians Way are trying to save a kid’s life from speeding drivers and the Dixon Police are worrying about putting dogs on leashes!!!

As far as “city ordinance” I can name several “ordinances” that are not implemented. In fact, ordinances are used to harass and retaliate against residents the City doesn’t like.