The Globe takes a look at conflict between the town of Winthrop and the Dunkin' Donuts on Main Street of that community. Some in the DD camp blame the Orient Heights traffic lights 3/4 of a mile away at the intersection of Bennington and Saratoga streets in East Boston. Traffic guru John Vitagliano, however, has used videotape -- some available to see with the story -- that points the finger at cars entering and exiting DD.I'm not sure that I quite understand Winthrop's reluctance to enforce an order passed by its zoning board that says the drive-through window cannot open between 7 and 10 a.m. The article implies that it is not specifically that the decision is under appeal in state court that prohibits officials from following up on it. "We're a legislative branch; we're not executive, we can't enforce anything," the town council president said. Can't they tell the police to do so?
3 comments:
Tell the police to enforce limits on the operations of a Dunkin Donuts...? A fox guarding the hen-house type of joke is in there somewhere, but I won't go there.
I believe , after talking to a Winthrop resident, that the police are not suppose to let cars form a line in the street. If the car won’t fit in the parking lot it has to keep going. Winthrop has set up an untenable situation. The police have become parking lot attendants. Close the drive-through down. For crying out loud people, get out of your cars and walk the 12’ to get a coffee.
Let me understand this. Some believe that a needed traffic light in another town is to blame for Winthrop's congestion problems near the Dunkin Donuts. I think most, if not all, of the cars coming from Winthrop in the morning are to blame for the endless line of cars heading to Orient Heights. It's not the fault of the traffic light. One solution would be for more Winthrop residents to use the Beachmont route in the mornings to avoid the long line on Saratoga Street. Maybe it's a little longer drive, but nothing is perfect when a town only has two ways of entering and exiting. Just a thought.
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