Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Blocked Paths


This really pisses me off. Although its a bit difficult to see in the above picture (taken on the way back from lunch), the delivery truck is backed up over the curb and thereby blocking the sidewalk. This is right outside our offices in front of the Teva Kastel (Israel's wannabe answer to Whole Foods). The delivery guys do this constantly and force everyone to walk around the hot smelly truck into the cars flying down HaMenofim street. There is a loading dock that they could back up to, but its more convenient to just block the sidewalk. Of course, this will continue until someone gets knocked down and killed by an oncoming car, and then all the city officials will walk around tut-tuting like chickens.

So, I complained to the manager of the Teva Kastel a few times. He (then She, then He again) just shrugged and fired back the ubiquitous Israeli answer to moral questions "What do you care?" (Ma hechpat lecha?) Well obviously I care, you ignorant peasant, I do not want to get run over on my way to lunch. And this is supposed to be an environment friendly, green, and socially conscious store. So I approached my neighbor, the interim city-engineer for Herzliya, and asked why these supermarkets (and myriad car rental companies) cannot take deliveries early in the morning so as not to disrupt the foot and car traffic. Why in the middle of the day? Surely you pass a city ordinance and then fine the buggers. Well, he thought I was crazy. He has real issues, like the fact that the main artery into the Herzliya Industrial Area has been moved to a road that floods promptly each winter.

The real solution is that I stop going out for lunch. Lets see what tomorrow brings.

Wednesday: Guess what, nothing changes. Blackshirleyo snapped this picture on her way to lunch at Max Brenner. A much better picture as you can well see. At least she did not get run over.

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