| Author | Message | ||
     Newneighbor Citizen Username: Newneighbor Post Number: 25 Registered: 3-2003 |
Why do people park in front of your house when they are visiting other neighbors? Park in front of THEIR house. We were recently moving in furniture and someone was parked in front of our house and we could not get close to our OWN walkway. Is there such a thing as parking etiquette in this town? | ||
| algebra2 Citizen Username: Algebra2 Post Number: 1114 Registered: 5-2001  |
I park where I see a convenient spot on the street. If I am not familiar with where my friend's house is I might pass it and park in front of their neighbor's house. Should I backup next time? What's the big deal? Is it that big of a deal? I'm sure in "other towns" people are much more polite.  | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 1794 Registered: 5-2001 |
New Neighbor: It's not just visitors to neighbors' houses. We frequently get people parking for a medical practice located in a near neighbor's house or for the nearby house of worship which hosts many community-based activities throughout the week and which has no parking facilities of its own. In addition, some of our neighbors entertain a great deal and have far more guests at one time than would be able to park in front of their house. Others may be hosting well attended meetings of organizations to which they belong. In SO/M the street is public property. People can park where they like unless they are violating standard no-parking laws -- blocking driveways and fire hydrants for example is verboten. When we need to on-load/off load heavy items such as furniture, we park in our driveway and on load/off load from there. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1627 Registered: 9-2001 |
"Why do people park in front of your house..." There are many reasons for this Newneighbor! I don't know where you live or what the circumstances are, but let me give you one example of why people now park in front of my house.... there is no place else around to park legally!!! My neighbors didn’t want to allow anyone to park in front of their homes, so they drummed up some bogus reasons on how they could eliminate noise, litter, and loitering in their neighborhood if the township committee would only post no stopping, no standing signs. Fortunately, after a long fight, I was recently able to at least win back a few spots in the front of my home. However, anyone looking for parking now only has my property to park in front of... IMO, when the township committee plays one group of neighbors against the others, they do a great disservice to everyone. Anytime parking is restricted in one location, it only stands to reason people needing to park will only have to park in front of someone else’s property. That’s a fact the TC has repeatedly failed to respect throughout the township… However you solve your problem, don’t be spiteful or selfish like some others and petition the town to restrict your parking. Good luck. | ||
| Reflective Citizen Username: Reflective Post Number: 65 Registered: 3-2003 |
Easy,ajc! It's Sunday, a day of rest. Most of us know your neighbors are, imho, losers and neer-do-wells. And that you are the best! Even tho I agree with you only 90% of the time. The old Township Committee is fast fading. Bye bye Jerry and Vic and maybe the Township Attorney, Roger who they both played like a flute. But, of course, Fred will make the choice whether to re-appoint Roger or not. One more thing is certain, Jerry will not be re-appointed to the Joint Meeting with its healthy salary. For those of you not in the know, check out today's Ledgers story on water and sewage commissions. Do you remember that the one year temporary $50 hike is now in its second year? Question: Will Fred be beholden to Giblen ala Jery and Vic? | ||
| thelight Citizen Username: Thelight Post Number: 61 Registered: 8-2001 |
Oh please let it be true!, Did I just read that the Township Attorney, Roger, may be on the outs? The Township would be well-served to replace him with a competent Attorney, one that would hopefully, not keep giving the TC bad/inaccurate "legal" advice (i.e. the Gizzo fiasco that cost the Township tons of money. It seems that before hiring Gizzo as the Director some years back, nobody ever contacted the Police and Firemens Pension Board and asked them if it was OK for Gizzo to be "double-dipping", collecting his Pension, and at the same time, raking in a huge salary for acting as Director! It seems that Gizzo held the position of Director improperly/illegaly. It seems that once a person retires from a law enforcement position, a certain amount of time must transpire before that person can resume a position of Authority in the same Township. Well it seems that before hiring Gizzo as Director, a simple phone call was not made to the Pension Board to check the legallity of this appointment. Needless to say, the Township (Maplewood) paid ALL penalties and fines, AND legal costs to get Gizzo out of hot water. Check the facts, Taxpayer money was used to "whitewash" that entire fiasco. Just my 2 cents. Thank You, The Light. | ||
| Reflective Citizen Username: Reflective Post Number: 66 Registered: 3-2003 |
Right on, thelight! It's great to see someone else with a Maplewood history. The Gizzo affair is only one of several, where the township attorney has opined to the committee and the result has been more taxes to us. Why doesn't someone check the attorney fees over the past 9 years. Easy to do. Check all annual expenditures for attorney fees at the township office. Want to see how much Jerry has made on the Joint Meeting? Check the financial disclosure forms at the township office. The frivolous township action against ajc is another example of wasted taxpayer dollars against a person who has worked to improve the town in volunteer activities such as the Rotary Club, the concierge. the Seth Boyden School and the Community Coalition among others. What have the losers done for the community except to whine and complain and waste our money?? The change on Jan 1, 2004 will be healthy for our town. Let's hope Fred is up to it. BTW, it's shameful that Ken and Kathy are missing from soapbox. Are they still running, maybe away from a number of issues which draw high interest among posters. Maybe like the great shebenois, they are reading in detail, Fringe's website. They should, because they might appointed to the Board of School Estimate and they need some good info. And last, will Fred allow David H to be appointed to the BOE? We will all know soon if the change is healthy or more of the same. How about it Fred? | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1631 Registered: 9-2001 |
Ok Reflective, I’ll get off it. But really, whenever I hear the word “Parking” it’s like waving a red flag in my face. The truth is, my resentment is not so much about the neighbors, it’s more that the township committee couldn’t see the stupidity of writing an ordinance to eliminate parking 24/7 for everyone in the neighborhood, when the complaints were about eliminating occasional noise, littering, and loitering from just a few inconsiderate employees in front of Winchester Gardens. As for the old Township Committee fading fast, well there’s certainly nothing wrong with change. But, that’s another subject and I’ll be happy to discuss it with you over a plate of hot pancakes some morning when you have the time...  BTW, I appreciate The Light sharing, but on a more current matter, I’m wondering what are the feelings of members of the police department on the information that the office building next to headquarters has just been sold to another law firm in town? I was speaking with the owner after the concert tonight, and the town never formally approached him on the matter of purchasing his property. As a matter of fact, after he spoke with Roger a couple of weeks ago… oh never mind, the deal is dead. What’s the plan? After all the hype about inspecting that building at the last TC meeting, and the article in the News Record, it looks like the only proposal left on the table for a new police department is the Verizon building? LOL Well, if and when the TC gets down to what the cost for this move is going to take, I have a feeling the Hilton Library site is going to look better and better...  | ||
| Mr. Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 280 Registered: 1-2003  |
Getting back to parking -- since I know nothing of recent local politics --, I remind newneighbor that street parking is public property. Any member of the public may use it as he sees fit. I'm sure that if those visitors had known you needed the space for unloading, they would have given it back. When parking, I'd rather not think about the very best place to park. One place should be as good as the next. I do not like to think about some resentful resident coming out and telling me not to park in front of his home. Remember, that space is not his, it's mine, because it's public. I'm not advocating rude behavior for anyone. If I know my action will inconvenience someone, I won't do it. Tom Reingold | ||
| Nohero Citizen Username: Nohero Post Number: 1858 Registered: 5-2001  |
Nice try, Mr. Reingold, but this thread seems to have veered away from parking to become the new "thread drift thread". | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 1803 Registered: 5-2001 |
Perhaps we should change the topic of this thread to parking your ideas in someone else's space.  | ||
| newjerz Citizen Username: Newjerz Post Number: 38 Registered: 5-2003 |
What about out of towners parking on the streets close to the train station? There are always many cars parked there, even belonging to people from within town who only want a 5 min walk instead of a 15 min walk in the morning. But given that it is public space and that many of the cars belong to out of towners, why not make the parking permit parking so the town can benefit financially from being on the midtown direct line. I've spoken to people who live on these streets and given that they are residential blocks, are not crazy about having cars parked outside all day and not having spaces available if friends want to come over and visit. But if they knew that the town was benefitting in some way from this, it might make it a little bit easier to take. | ||
| grw Citizen Username: Grw Post Number: 145 Registered: 12-2002 |
Don't you have a driveway?? | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1632 Registered: 9-2001 |
WHAT'S THIS ABOUT STREET PARKING AGAIN! “Getting back to parking -- since I know nothing of recent local politics”, Tom, what do you mean getting BACK to parking? I sorry, I know you're a nice young guy and new to Maplewood politics and how they deal with parking, but you had to just read that I see red when someone brings up parking, especially when they say that parking on our streets belongs to everyone! Please try and pay attention this time, what you’re saying is just not so.... “Street parking is NOT public property where any member of the public may use it as he sees fit”. And, nobody wants, “to think about some resentful resident coming out and telling US not to park in front of his home.” Listen up again, this is Maplewood! In this town it only takes three guys a few minutes to change over a hundred years of tradition. Some of these guys have even seen fit to justify taking away Sunday parking in and around a church on the corner of Parker and Burr… Do you wonder where they’ll park? Right… they’ll go park in front of your house because your neighbor’s don’t want them in front of their houses. The stupid mentality in this town is that if you have a problem, and if someway it involves parking, just bitch to the township committee and they'll pass the problem to your neighbors down the street. I know you’re a sweet guy, and you’re “not advocating rude behavior for anyone”. And, “if you know your action will inconvenience someone, you won't do it.” But, unfortunately Tom, that’s not always the case around this town…. BTW Nohero, this thread is about “Park in front of your own house”, so back off please! | ||
| johnny Citizen Username: Johnny Post Number: 688 Registered: 5-2001 |
I agree, park in front of your own house if there is room. As for Jerry, what is the Joint Meeting and how much does he get paid for it? As for the Board of Estimates, Huemer's rubberstamp of approval for the Board of Ed's last minute wishes was very disappointing. Time for new leadership on the B. of Estimates. | ||
| Mr. Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 289 Registered: 1-2003 |
OK, Art, tell me what the problem is or has been. Is it that people don't have enough room to park? In that case, how far do they have to walk from their cars to their destinations? Are curbs being filled up by cars of strangers? If so, why is that a problem? Please explain. Sorry to take your time to explain an old problem to a new guy. Tom Reingold | ||
| Reflective Citizen Username: Reflective Post Number: 67 Registered: 3-2003 |
Ok AJC, blast away on parking, you've earned it! Tom R - buckle up and get ready for the ride. In brief, ajc's loser neighbors, a small handful, with friends in high places, made a stink about parking when ajc had parties. AJC tried to work it out with them over a looooong time, but they contacted their friends in high places. Vic and Jerry and then the current, possbly short - timer, township atty,Roger D., went to work on ajc. What they didn't count on, was that ajc fought back. It's well chronicled on MOL. Bottom line is that ajc's right don't think you can park anywhere. Lest we forget Kathy L was part of the movement banning parking around the church on Parker and Burr. She's merely Fred's candidate in this year's election. So ask yourself, what other parking ban is around the corner? Given the state of finances in Maplewood, my crystal ball shows Parking Meters in all residential areas. Nohero, this isn't thread drift it's right to the point. You've been around long enough to know how things get done here. And Johnny, go down to townhall and ask what Jerry' comp is on the Joint Meeting. After all, it's a public record. Maybe Jerry will offer it up. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1634 Registered: 9-2001 |
OK, here goes! This thread started off with a simple question, “Why do people park in front of your house when they are visiting other neighbors?” The answer is simple, there is probably no place else to park. Trust me, 99% of drivers will park their cars as close to where they’re going as they can, you can bet your TV remote on it!  Meanwhile, just about everywhere we go there's a need for more parking. For this reason we should do everything we can to help to improve things. Whether it’s car-pooling, public transportation, or a jitney bus, government must also do everything it can to help with the problem. The last thing in the world government should do is legislate away parking from the public at large, especially in a residential area to appease a few bitchy neighbors. Tom, let me say it again as simple as I can, in this town if you have a problem, and in anyway it involves parking, just bitch to the township committee and chances are they'll legislate the problem to your neighbors down the street. That's it! I That's the real deal... If you think about what some of your first considerations are when you take your car, next to buckel up, where will you park will be right at the top of the list. Whether it’s at home, at work, shopping, or whatever, parking is always a concern. Try this Tom, just walk out in front of your home and imagine signs on both sides of the street for blocks that say No Stopping No Standing, 24/7… That’s it, taking parking from anywhere in and around our homes should never be allowed. This means if any project on the boards threatens residential parking, it should be disqualified. To that end, the Winchester Garden expansion a few years ago was the alleged reason used to ban parking on Elmwood Avenue, the problem was noise, litter, and loitering, their solution was poorly thought out, didn’t solve the problem, is unenforceable, and was supported by a group of neighbors with their own selfish agenda. What else can I say, maybe the next administration will be more considerate of the rights and feelings of all residents, rather than the pushy, bitchy few…. | ||
| Nohero Citizen Username: Nohero Post Number: 1863 Registered: 5-2001 |
I don't care what anyone says. Newneighbor started this thread with a simple question: "Is there such a thing as parking etiquette in this town?" This was like saying "Niagara Falls" to some folks with axes to grind. ("Slowly I turn, step by step, inch by inch.") That is thread drift. Not that there's anything wrong with that. | ||
| mwsilva Citizen Username: Mwsilva Post Number: 370 Registered: 5-2002 |
I have an idea. Let's just ban parking on all streets in Maplewood at all times. That would make it fair. |
