Auburn's sidewalk law doesn't work.

That's the conclusion one must make if the goal of the law is to have a city equipped with decently maintained sidewalks on every street. All it takes is a short drive around the city to see the problems.

There's plenty of properties without sidewalks. There are entire blocks and entire streets without sidewalks. And, perhaps most importantly, there are many sidewalks in such terrible condition that trying to use them is nearly impossible if you're in a wheelchair or pushing a stroller.

Some city officials claim the law on the books that requires property owners to have sidewalks has been the best way to tackle these problems.

Unfortunately, the law has been so randomly enforced that all it does is create anger and resentment by targeted property owners. How can the city justify requiring people living on one block to shell out thousands of dollars for a sidewalk installation, while blatantly ignoring lots on the opposite side of the same street? And how can the city justify forcing certain property owners to pay for a sidewalk while it provides free sidewalk installations at other private properties as part of a grant program or a road project?

Both of those scenarios are taking place in Auburn.

Some advocates of the current law say it is needed to ensure mobility for people with disabilities. But as we've already pointed out, the city's current sidewalk infrastructure is woefully inadequate despite a law that's been on the books for years.

To truly make Auburn a city that's friendly to pedestrians, including people with disabilities, the city should take responsibility for sidewalks. Build the cost of an annual maintenance and installation program into the budget, much like the street paving program that currently exists.

Until the city figures out how to make that happen, a proposed moratorium on the existing sidewalk law is a good move.