On today's show (Monday), it came out of the blue:  a young caller phoned to question why the City of Saskatoon's boulevards -- especially the ones entering the city -- look so gawdawful, overgrown, strewn with weeds, dandelions and left over winter gravel.

You know, the guy has a point (and we're going to talk about it on Tuesday's show!) 

When I returned to Saskatchewan 10 years ago this summer I thought it was just Saskatoon having a bad year.  But, sure enough, every year it's the same -- city ditches, boulevards and especially the face that is shown to visitors just screams "hey, I'm a butt ugly city".

In the interior of Saskatoon one of the most beautiful parks -- the area around the riverbank at the Bessborough Hotel -- is in great shape by the May long weekend.  But coming into the city from any of the four directions, it won't be until July at best that Saskatoon even begins to hold a candle to Regina, Edmonton or Calgary.  Why is this?

I suspect that somewhere in the bowels of City Hall -- that would be the civic administration, not the ever obedient City Councillors who merely do as they're told by city managers -- some well meaning bureaucrat a decade or two ago decided for reasons of penny pinching that esthetic maintenance would "be done when it's done".  To be fair, every boulevard and ditch can't miraculously be cleaned up overnight.  But for the love of all that is good and right, why would city entrances not be done first, fastest and best?

Just like why you shave on weekends -- or don't wear your crappiest clothes to a family reunion -- how you look to outsiders really does matter.   And when you're a city trying to attract families and businesses and conferences, how difficult is it to really clean up the city entrances? 

What is doubly pathetic is that Saskatoon, an exceptionally pretty city along the river, isn't so hot coming into town from the airport so limo drivers usually take visitors downtown by heading down 51st St., then going down Whiteswan and along Spadina -- about as scenic a route as you can get.  But, guess where weeds and bad roadside maintenace are still a problem?  You guessed it -- the ramps to 51st St., and along the routes to the river.

Come on, City Hall.  Saskatoon is a classy city that deserves to look like one.