One of the downsides to New Media: Old Rules

In true old fashion reminder that riddles with every person especially the minute they begin a new venture or start a new job within government or major corporations and small alike: scrutiny rears its ugly orifices. The person either has to sift their history or obliterate their previous or future independence of expression on views and events from the public view. One of the things that NEW MEDIA NEW RULES promoted, wrongfully so in my opinion, was "no anonymous blogging/comments"; unfortunately that lack of pseudonymous status, has now claimed part of the historical record of Fort Wayne politics and life events in its wake.

Rachel Blakeman, formerly the Editor of BE PART OF THE SOLUTION has, according to Jeff Pruitt @ Fort Wayne Left, accepted a position within the Mayoral administration of Tom Henry as the Public Information Officer; as a precursor to that event, BPOTS went dead about three days ago and is now completely wiped from existence. This is the ultimate reason why traditional print media will never go completely away as a primary source, because it provides an historical record and is independent from what your current and future boss or company might consider within the preview of your eligibility for or sustainability with employment. If we are going to embrace the New Media over the Old or Traditional, then the Old Rules need thrown out as well or at least revised to accommodate if not the independent thought then at least the historical recall; which due to these actions, whether undertaken by Rachel as a personal decision or directed to her as a condition of employment, has greatly diminished for our posterity part of the dialogs of our City's history.

I used Rachel's analysis to balance my own on certain thoughts and issues and the give and take across the blogosphere of Fort Wayne has lost a great contributer to the conversation. I hope and pray that at some pointe she will make an archive available. I also wish her the best as she explores these new opportunities to keep the citizen informed and government as transparent as possible. BTW, Jeff, thank you again for the information.

Fort Wayne Citizens Deny Revitilization Plan 60 Years Ago

taking from the past to make the future better

This picture and story has come up every few years or so and I am surprised that it isn't hanging up at a Meijer Store or Pizza Hut anywhere. In all actuality the way it is designed versus the way the city is laid out now we got the better deal for the most part. I mean seriously it still only takes less than 20 minutes to cruise from Glenbrook Mall to Pettit Avenue except during rush hour. The ideas presented in the drawing though not in the specific location are worth reviewing

+Underpass or overpass some of the more obsolete intersections (eg: Wallace to Crieghton north on Lafayette and south on Clinton) where this could really prove beneficial is an underpass inerchange system for the intersection of Coldwater Rd.- SR 327@ Coliseum Blvd.- SR 930, one of Fort Wayne's deadliest intersections.

+ The use of service access roads (like Barr Street is now between Main Street and Washington Blvd.)

+There are two major roundabouts in the design of this picture one is south of Pettit at Fairfax and what was supposed to be US 27/33 not to mention the big one in the heart of town at what would have been Clay and Breckenridge. One could surmise even back in the 40's that FW drivers don't like roundies but they work! I have often thought that if we had roundies at some of our less important and secondary intersections we so would be better off and we would have fewer multi car accidents, as long as the roundies stay at no more than two lanes wide, ask any IPFW student about that one.

One last comment and I will quit.

+The idea of cutting off the neighborhood access to major roads is a good idea that really should be reviewed again for possibilities. If neighborhoods had fewer access points to or between major roads it would cut down on people zipping through your neighborhood and possibly hitting your child that just stepped out on to the street to go after a ball. If neighborhoods could only be accessed from secondary streets it would also reduce congestion during rush hour on the major roads.

Thanks for reading.

Source of Origin: What Might Have Been by John Good of Fort Wayne Left