Dear Editor,
Was a pleasure to read about the new parking regulations. I have written letters to this paper in the past with similar suggestions to those that hopefully will be implemented.
But I would like to revisit some points covered in your article. It is a matter of state law that persons must transfer their license and registration within six months of moving. The new policy seems to address that. Why should people with temporary permits be able to renew them indefinitely? As for alternate side of the street parking for visitors and residents, I would hope that this new regulation stipulates that one must have a business or visitor permit to park in the new designated areas.
As for our business owners complaining. Boo hoo for you. The biggest parking nightmare in our city has always been on popular bar nights that really just cater to out-of-towners anyway. And I can only think of only one bar in the First Ward that has ever had a block party for the community. If these business people are so community minded, they should sponsor neighborhood clean-ups to remove the debris, bottles and vomit that their valued customers have left on our streets.
Furthermore, has anyone ever thought about the fact that residents don’t support business in other areas of town because we don’t want to give up our parking space? If we can park on our neighborhood streets, there will be fewer residents settling for a metered space (and a ticket) leaving plenty of free metered parking for shoppers, which, of course, is the purpose of metered parking, and more residents using their vehicles to support other businesses in town because we can finally find a parking space at the end of our journey home.
I know I will be using my car more once the new regulations kick in.
David S. Bimbi
First Ward
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