Letter to the Editor: Downey's street problems

Dear Editor:

I read with interest Alex Dominguez’ article, “City could speed up road repairs.” (Downey Patriot, 4/22/21). If you would be interested in writing a follow-up article, the following may be of interest.

I was born in Downey in 1958, so I recall when Downey streets were still adequately paved, but it has not been the case for some time. Already back when Downey Ford was still in business, I joked that the reason the city held off on repaving Lakewood Boulevard was to help the Ford dealer sell more off-road vehicles.

I now live near Doty Middle School, and the section of Clancey Avenue near me has been a sore point in the neighborhood for some time. Last year I investigated what could be done about the situation. I spoke with someone at the city engineering department, who referred me to maintenance on Bellflower Blvd., who in turn referred me back to engineering. Finally I got hold of Desi Gutierrez, the Principal Civil Engineer in the Department of Public Works. Mr. Gutierrez was very generous with his time in explaining the situation. Here are some things that I remember from our conversation:

The city hires a company to do a survey of the roads every year, and gives them a rating from 0 to 100. This helps Mr. Gutierrez determine what kind of repairs are necessary. A road with a rating of 50 might need a fresh coat of asphalt, while a road with a rating of 30 might need repaving.

The same company does an estimate of what it would cost to upgrade all of the city’s roads to a “passing” grade of 70. The estimate they gave was $10 million a year—for ten years. Given that Measure S was originally billed as a public safety bill, to improve police and fire protection but also roads, I asked Mr. Gutierrez how much the city. Since I, for one, voted for the bill solely because of the need for street repair, I felt misled.

So if Councilmember Mario Trujillo was truly disturbed by the grading of the city’s streets, he either lives in a rare area of Downey, or he hasn’t been paying attention. When Clancey was finally repaved early this year, it was the first time it had been in the over 25 years that I have lived in the area. Before that, it was just patches on patches, a familiar condition to Downey residents.

Every time I read in the Patriot about councilmembers boasting about how well Measure S monies were spent, I see red. The police bought a military type vehicle that they “hope that they never need.” The library got an expensive makeover but hasn’t been open for over a year, and despite having a voicemail message that they will return your call as soon as possible, I haven’t had a callback yet, and it’s been months. Meanwhile, Downey’s streets continue to deteriorate. I was in Morocco a couple of years ago, and they have better pavement there.

I understand why the city has not prioritized street repair: it is unglamorous, and it lends itself to neither a ribbon-cutting ceremony nor an opportunity to install a plaque with the names of the city councilmembers who advocated for it. Nevertheless, in talking with Downey residents, I have been struck with how many agree that the condition of the streets is the number one problem in the city.

In fact Downey’s reputation for poor streets extends far beyond its borders. I have a friend who lives in Lancaster, and when I first mentioned that I lived in Downey, he responded, “I HATE Downey!” When I asked why, he responded that the poor streets, coupled with the lack of parking and traffic enforcement, have led to Downey having some of the worst traffic in Southern California. As a result, when he goes to Orange County, he makes sure that he drives around Downey.

Bill Niemand
Downey