To the Editor:
Dear Sir/Madam:
This certified letter accompanies the $54 parking ticket payment because I want a formal record of what I feel is very poor judgment on the part of the issuing officer.
I patronize Midtown Pharmacy, a long established locally owned business. I could just as easily obtain medications at any supermarket or large pharmacy chains, but I strongly support locally owned businesses. Unfortunately, parking is virtually nonexistent at Kennedy Boulevard and 32nd Street, which forces one to park momentarily either in a bus stop, private driveways or next to a hydrant. Because I was escorting my father into the pharmacy, I chose to stop at the hydrant as not to block either private driveways or the bus stop.
My father is 88 years old, large in build and has had both knees replaced. He can only walk short distances and generally requires assistance. I placed his handicap placard on my mirror and walked him into the pharmacy, as he had some questions regarding the medications he uses. Less than five minutes later, we returned to find a ticket on the car.
Let’s talk about judgment, particularly common sense. Do you think that given that the car was directly in front of the pharmacy and had a handicap placard hanging from the mirror, would it not have been reasonable to enter the pharmacy and ask about the car? Was this an imminent and pressing safety violation? Whether a meter person or patrol officer, they are, I’m sure, well aware of this existing situation and circumstances at this location. This “public servant” chose to ignore it.
All this accomplishes is to annoy already overburdened taxpaying customers of Midtown Pharmacy, one of the last locally owned pharmacies, who might very well decide to switch patronage to one of the national chains with dedicated parking rather than to chance a ticket.
Might I add that monitoring the speed on Kennedy Boulevard of the traffic nightmare at Broadway and 32nd Street would be far more productive to promote safety and improve the well being of the community.
Lastly, by scheduling a court appearance during the day, one’s only choice is to forfeit a day’s pay in order to present a probable losing argument. Is this any choice at all?
NICKIE ANN GUZINSKI