Located between a low-income housing project and an old industrial zone south of Broadway, Jedediah Smith Elementary and Arthur A. Benjamin Health Professions High School, both on McClatchy Way, attract few passers-by. Before and after school, however, a swarm of students descend upon the street, which badly strains the neighborhood's infrastructure and places the children's lives at risk.

Jean Caruthers has frequently witnessed the street's poor condition. For over two years she has walked her three grandchildren to school along McClatchy Way, and has watched children jaywalk and cars drive by unsafely. "Kids walk out, looking at their shoes, and cars go by very fast," she said.

After a severe accident at the elementary school parking lot, Caruthers decided to try to force officials to make the area safer. "A kid got hit and dragged by a car in the parking lot of the elementary school," she said.

Caruthers began contacting neighborhood organizations, property management groups, the city council — anyone who would listen.

Some organizations and people ignored her, and others told her that she was "nothing but a troublemaker," she said. But she finally found success with sympathetic city officials at Council-member Robert Fong's office and with the management of the adjacent low-income housing units.

"The housing authority ripped out the cyclone fencing and installed a beautiful wrought iron fence with two openings that lead directly to new crosswalks," Caruthers said. In turn, the city added the crosswalks and other pedestrian improvements.

Caruthers said the officials recognized the problem once they visited the area before and after school time. "When safety is violated, people get hurt or killed," she said. "They could have a hell of a lawsuit."

According to Sacramento city representative Linda Tucker, the city has installed roughly $25,000 of pedestrian access improvements along Fifth Street and McClatchy Way as a result of Caruthers's advocacy.

"I'm quite pleased with what everyone has done, but they're not done yet," Caruthers said. "I know it is going to be an ongoing process."

Caruthers is most concerned about continuing problems with the elementary school parking lot. "The school has added crossing guards, but it's not enough. It's still an issue," she said. According to Caruthers, the underlying problem with the school's parking lot involves its poor design. "The school was built in 1953, and its time for it to be updated," she said.

Another lingering issue concerns the lack of sufficient sidewalk along Fifth Street, which intersects McClatchy Way and is often used by students walking to and from Broadway. When it rains the students are forced to walk in the mud. "It's a heck of a mess," Caruthers said.

Despite this, Caruthers remains optimistic and thankful for all that has been done to improve McClatchy Way. "It's much safer for everyone - not just the kids," she said.

Photo credit: anthonybento.com