The very first question to ask about this project, is this "repaving" or "replacement?" If they're proposing a coat of asphalt over the existing street, take a look at the recent "repaving" of Sylvan Way between 35th SW and Delridge Way. It's brand-new and already it has multiple patches, is in need of further repairs and surely always will continue to do so. If they're going to replace California Avenue with new concrete, fine, otherwise it's much better off left alone.

How many lawsuits have midblock crosswalks in West Seattle generated? Any? Has anyone ever even been injured in one of them?

If they take out the midblock crosswalks, people will simply cross midblock without the benefit of a crosswalk. Is that safer? If one does that and gets hit, could he then sue the city for removing the crosswalk?

I'm a longtime West Seattle resident and have personally never even seen a close call at one of those crosswalks. All the locals know they're there and we're mostly locals. West Seattle just isn't on the way to somewhere else. That's why we live here. Maybe it's time to revisit the secessionist movement.

The tone of Greg Hirakawa's responses sounds like the typical bureaucratic mindset. Hold some meetings and then go ahead and do what they intended to do in the first place. After all, they clearly know better than we do what's good for us, don't they?

Tom Hope

West Seattle