Out There: Let’s sweat the small stuff

I’m trying my best to be a voice of the people here, but sometimes I need a little help. I love getting feedback and suggestions from you, the people who know what’s really going on in our communities. You’re the heart, soul and conscience and your ideas and insights are almost always useful.

Your feedback helps keep journalists focused on the issues that matter most to you. All too often, professional media types, like me, think we know best. Sometimes we’re a little misguided.



Sometimes we misjudge thoughts, feelings, wants and needs. It happens. As a voice of the people, it is my responsibility to hear you and represent you.

Which is why, this week, I have some strong opinions to share. First, a reader named Sharon says we have an issue in some of our restaurants. I agree.

Some restaurants, in my opinion, serve olives. I hate olives. I make no apologies.

Sharon’s issue is even more serious. She asks: “Why is it that when you go to a sit-down restaurant and the host shows you to your table, very nicely and politely, that they then proceed to dump the menus and utensils in a pile on the table? Would it kill that person to nicely set them out in their proper places? It would take two seconds.” I have witnessed this too, Sharon.

It is unacceptable ...

unless I’m starving. Then go ahead and drop those utensils. Throw them at me from across the dining room if it’ll get my chicken caesar wrap and waffle fries to the table two seconds quicker.

Here’s another strong opinion, based on reader feedback. I don’t know who needs to hear this but ..

. give us back our sidewalks! I’m not saying “I don’t know who needs to hear this” as a trite expression like we see on social media all the time. I literally don’t know who needs to hear this.

This plea to give us back our sidewalks came in an email from a reader named Helen. She said: “Give pedestrians back their sidewalk.” As a journalist, this smelled like a big story to me.

Unfortunately, when I asked Helen for more details, she ghosted me. It still smells like a big story. A big, important, mysterious story.

Who or what has taken our sidewalks from us? What are we missing out on? How do we get our sidewalks back? Is there anyone, besides me, who can help? Are we talking about bicycles? Sometimes cyclists like to ride on the sidewalk instead of on the road. Sometimes they like to ride on the road instead of the sidewalk. If I’m walking, I curse them to get back on the road.

If I’m driving, I can’t understand why they don’t just move to the sidewalk. I’m of two minds on this debate. I can’t claim to be a person for one side or the other.

If I make a strong statement, I’m likely going to have to back . It is tricky ..

. Are you getting my puns? Do you see what I’m doing? OK, you’re right. Not funny or helpful.

Maybe it is rollerbladers or skateboarders who are taking over our sidewalks. Helen? Is that it? Is rollerblading even still a thing? Maybe pedestrians haven’t lost their sidewalks to bikes, boards and blades at all. Is sidewalk chalk art running rampant? Are we being overtaken by school-age Picassos, scribbling in our walking space? Is our sidewalk chalk industry just training youngsters that graffiti is OK too? Helen? Is that it? Is that the issue? Let’s go change the world! I just need a few little details first.

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