Residents here are not interested in expensive skyscrapers and huge tunnels and underpasses, but only want to see their city's dilapidated streets repaired soon. They want their newly elected mayor Dr. Hani Abu Ras to prioritize these problems and find urgent and radical solutions, according to a report in Al-Hayat Arabic daily. Majed Al-Ghamdi, a resident of Al-Wazeeria District, said that in the past there was continual talk about fixing the city. Now, with the appointment of the new mayor, there is renewed hope that something will be done. Al-Ghamdi said, however, that Abu Ras does not have a “magic wand” to solve the situation “overnight”. He said the cracked and dilapidated streets and roads have become an eyesore for the Bride of the Sea. He said people are now simply accepting the fact that the city looks like this and that their cars will be damaged on the roads. Saleh Al-Ghamdi agrees. “Jeddah's residents are now tired of talking about the ditches and cracks in the streets. They no longer believe the promises made by successive officials to put an end to this perpetual problem.” While he does not believe the new administration will fare any better than the city's previous leaders, he is hoping that something will be done. Marwan Hamid, a resident of north Jeddah said, “I think there is something wrong with the priorities of the authorities concerned in Jeddah, particularly the mayoralty and municipalities. If you look at their promises, you will find a contradiction in their plans to develop the coastal city, while still having roads full of cracks and ditches.” He said they should not build flyovers, bridges and underpasses and “forget” about the problems in the streets. Meanwhile, Engineer Jamal Burhan, said city officials should develop an engineering plan to ensure that any construction taking place suits Jeddah's soil.
