Milwaukee, Cleveland, Chicago, Charleston and St. Louis all have sidewalks. Philadelphia, Boston, Seattle, Washington DC, and Pittsburgh all have stoops. This is Democrat country. We believe in sidewalks and stoops. We will pay for sidewalks and stoops. We cherish them. Why? It is how we define our community.
With sidewalks and stoops, we race up and down on our bikes. We linger out front with a glass of wine and honey roasted peanuts. We smoke cigarettes and throw them into the street. We live outside of our home. We live with our neighbors. We see our world walk past us every night. This is how we live.
Not every community has sidewalks and stoops. I understand why. Many communities/cities leave it up to the individual property owner to decide as to whether or not they want to pay for it. In Chicago, there is no choice. You must pay for the maintenance of your sidewalk. It is YOUR responsibility as a homeowner.
In other places around America, this is not a requirement. It is not even an expectation. It is a choice and a choice only. Fine. So be it. This is how others choose to live. I choose to be connected. I choose to walk among my neighbors, stopping to say hello...chatting about the trivial. Nonetheless, I know my neighbors. I know their names. I know the name of the crazy lady with the misbehaving dogs from down the block. Why?
I hang out on my sidewalk and on my stoop. I'm a Democrat and I believe in community.