Dear Editor:
With more and more cars being registered or operating in the State of New Jersey each year the time will surely come, if not already, when there will be a serous crisis. And this, coupled with the ever increasing property taxes will force every resident to think about moving out of the City. Citizens who have lived they’re entire lives here, and who want to continue living here are faced with this dilemma.
And yet, notwithstanding these problems, the Mayor and members of the City Council, except for one or two, seem to be uninterested or impotent about finding any solutions. Increased spending and allowing students and transients to park their cars wherever they like are not the norm.
It is unfathomable to me why the City, acting through its Parking Authority, Planning Board and City Council allow Stevens students, no matter where their cars are registered, no matter whether or not their cars are insured, to park their cars anywhere, even though Stevens provides some parking facilities. Most colleges and universities prohibit freshman from having cars during their freshman year. Especially in such congested areas. Why Stevens allows its freshman to have cars especially when its campus is so small and the City is highly congested is beyond me.
I mentioned the Planning Board for a reason. Presently the work has stopped on the proposed Stevens parking garage on Sinatra Drive. And I understand the proposed garage is planned for over 700 cars. Why not agree with Stevens that the construction proceed and all variances are granted in consideration of Stevens agreeing that the students not be given resident parking stickers and all students be prohibited from bringing their cars to school if they fail to make us of the Stevens facilities, or incur a parking violation in any residential area.
It would not be a solution to the overall problem, but at least be a step in the right direction.
Marvin F. Lee