Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Sweeps snoozefest
So far, WLOS has failed to impress during this November’s sweeps. And time is slipping away. The month is nearly half gone. So far, the “big” stories have been big non-stories. Hell, I can’t even remember what any of them were. Usually we’ll at least get a laugh or two out of some over-hyped bit WLOSers will take and run with. But not so this month. C’mon guys, step it up.
Big story buried
Michelle Boudin’s story about the changes coming to Woodfin Street downtown seemed to me to be an important story, but she got buried by Russ “Beefcake” Bowen’s report on a Nantahala School teacher busted on meth charges and some nonsense about old people not understanding the federal government’s new prescription drug plan.
Boudin tell us that Ashvegas’ traffic planners are going to narrow Woodfin to two lanes with a center turn lane and turn the rest of the space into on-street parking. Right now, the street is four lanes and runs by the Thomas Wolfe house, the Radisson, the county health department, the First Baptist Church, the downtown YMCA and the county office space at One Oak Plaza, to name some of the key locations. A city planner said traffic will be further slowed by some other features.
I’m sick of the city planning department effing up our streets. I’m sick of their speed humps and bumps, their “bulb outs” and traffic circles and other “traffic calming” bullshit. They’re making our streets absolutely undriveable unless you’re a trustafarian riding a damn 30-mile-per-hour Vespa.
Look at what they’ve done to College Street. Or the streets around Battery Park Avenue. Or any of a number of other neighborhood streets. Driving these goat paths makes you feel like you might crash into a giant curb or seagrass shrub at any moment.
I can’t stand the rain forecast
The crack WLOS weather team has been forecasting rain for days. Still nothing. Guess if they keep calling for it, eventually it will come. But that’s some damn weak weather forecasting work, sheeple.
what?! charu didn’t have any FACTS in her story? SHOCKER! some things never change…
Thank you, NewsJunkie, for ranting for me. And can I mention the idiots who are so busy chatting on their cell phones that they run red lights, swerve across center lights, or drive 15 miles per hour in a 35 zone?
I want more traffic calming. Let’s make the entire city a fricking obstacle course so people HAVE to pay attention.
Sorry to have to disagree with you for once, Ash, but the traffic improvements are a good thing. They fulfill their intended purpose of making Ashvegas safer for those on foot, especially children going to school.
The real problem is the sizeable percentage of folks hereabouts who can’t drive a motor vehicle well enough to keep between two painted lines marking a lane. I watch people sideswipe curbs, bushes, and drift into the adjacent lane all the time. If they can’t steer any better than this how the h*** can they be expected to drive around these devices? Do we really want that type of driver to be able to go fifty MPH downtown if they can’t even negotiate a curve at 20?
That’s my rant for today.
Actually, on Friday, Cuevas did NOT have rain for the weekend. He had it for late Monday and then Tuesday. If you watch that closely, you should know that. He does a great job with the forecast.
Tom
O, i’ve been listening. Cuervo on Friday said it would rain this weekend. Today, he says it will be Tuesday or Wednesday.
Whatever, dude. He’ll get it right eventually, but it sure doesn’t do much for the weather guy’s credibility….
If you would actually pay attention and listen, you would know that they forecasted a few showers possible but not everywhere and not much at that. Cuevas says the best chance for rain is Tuesday night Wednesday morning.