Maybe it was the city's fault for waiting three years since the last meeting, allowing time for memories to fade and new ideas to form. Maybe Councilman Tom Gallagher, who reportedly called for the new meeting, should have dropped by to explain his position. Maybe the city had a mailing problem in 2005 (because a few long-time residents Aug. 6 said they'd never been notified of that go-round). Maybe some of the residents who went to that meeting should have shown up to explain to the current group why they liked the traffic circle back then.
A really great hindsight argument is that the city should have gone in and fixed things nine years ago when the 17th Street neighborhood first identified a speeding problem and city studies supported that fact. The cost would have been about half what it is now, plus the city had money then to do it. Of course, that assumes an unlikely scenario - that a true consensus could have been reached in a short time by all neighbors. Never automatic on this side of town. And besides, nobody wants some government handout, just to have it. Better nothing than something that doesn't work. That seemed to be the overall attitude Aug. 6. It remains to be seen whether the result of that will be a better project or, well... nothing.
- K.J.