| Author |
Message |
    
Kibbegirl
Citizen
Username: Kibbegirl
Post Number: 16
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 26, 2003 - 7:28 am: |     |
While picking up my son from kindergarten last week at the Marshall Elementary School, I was surprised by the number of "No Parking" signs placed along a small section of Turrell Avenue. As it states, no one can park in this particular area of Turrell between the hours of 8am-6pm. This makes absolutely no sense to me or to the other parents who frequently park on that side of Turrell in order to walk their children to school and/or pick them up.
My son began Marshall in September and sometimes we walk to school and other times we drive due to poor weather conditions. I have never encountered a parent park illegally or block driveways. We are responsible adults trying to take our children to school. Why these signs were placed is beyond comprehension.
I am incensed because the community was not notified that these signs would be placed. I am convinced that these signs are the work of a lone person and perhaps a few others, who are not happy with parents parking briefly on "their side of the street."
With extremely high property taxes in our towns that fund our public schools, you'd think that residents would be properly informed of this change. Where are parents supposed to park for our children's plays, events and PTA meetings? Some of these events occur in the early evening. Are we to park and walk a few blocks in order to attend these functions? Where are parents supposed to park when the weather is inclement and we're trying to get our little ones into the school? Our tax dollars fund the Marshall School yet we cannot park on a public street adjacent to the school?
There are other signs on Turrell Avenue stating that there is 4 hour parking during school days. These signs make sense and are always obeyed. The new signs do not belong in a residential neighborhood, especially one that houses a school.
The timetable of the signs is incredibly ridiculous. Not even Columbia High School has signs that read "No Parking Between 8am - 6pm." I do not understand the logic in this at all. I could understand if cars were noisy, double parked, reckless and illegally parked, then there would be a need for some sort of signs. As far as I know, these annoyances do not take place.
I phoned Captain Adriano (sp?) to complain about the signs and ask if there was anything residents could do about it. His answer was unfortunately "no," but he did give me the resolve to feel free to ask questions about the signs and seek a copy of the recently passed ordinance.
What troubles me is that many Seton Hall students daily park their cars on Irving Avenue and Turrell and yet no ordinance was passed to prevent that. Why is parking briefly to drop a child off at school now against the law?
With all that is going on (increasing property taxes) and not going on in South Orange (grocery store, movie theatre) you'd think that making life a bit easier on South Orange residents would be top of the list. I never thought that the issue of parking near a school would become yet another obstacle for our residents.
If someone out there would be so kind as to give me insight on why this has occurred, I would greatly appreciate it. My fellow parents and PTA members will retrieve a copy of the ordinance from Village Hall after the holidays. I feel safe in speaking for many of them that this is not only an inconvenience, but unjust in its reasoning.
|
bobk
Citizen
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 4135
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 26, 2003 - 7:57 am: | |
I would suggest that you post this in the South Orange specific section. Mark Rosner often responds to posts/questions such as this. |
Duncan
Real Name
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 1372
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 26, 2003 - 8:17 am: | |
Kibbie.. I wouldnt worry too much..over here in Mapleberry there are parking restrictions on my street that are summarily ignored by both law enforcement and parents. And while you may be a responsible parent dropping off your kids, I live by Clinton Elementary and have had my driveway blocked on more than one occasion. Four to be exact. And once the woman had the gall to tell me to get a life when I complained that I was at home with an infant and could not get out of my driveway. So there is often legitimate reason behind the laws but often offenders fly under the radar.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take"
Wayne Gretzky |
Kibbegirl
Citizen
Username: Kibbegirl
Post Number: 17
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 26, 2003 - 8:24 am: | |
Although I still see parents parking in that "restricted" area (mainly because most are shocked to see new signs there), the SOPD states that once they get the "word" from superiors, they will begin enforcing the law and giving out tickets. If I wanted parking battles and red tape, I could've stayed in Brooklyn! |
Duncan
Real Name
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 1374
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 26, 2003 - 9:20 am: | |
quote:If I wanted parking battles and red tape, I could've stayed in Brooklyn!
What did you want Kibbie? The laws you call a restriction on residents.. but if you are me, for example, you would be glad to see your tax dollars going toward the prevention of people blocking in your driveway. You have to look at the other side of the coin, if possible, to recognize that the people who live near schools face some unique challenges between 8-8:30AM and 3-3:30PM.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take"
Wayne Gretzky |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2307
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 26, 2003 - 9:47 am: | |
Kibbegirl:
Did the police captain tell you why parking was no longer permitted on that stretch of Turrell during those hours? It could be for the safety of the children. Similar no parking restrictions were put in place by Tuscan School after a child ran across the street to a waiting parent's car and was hit by a moving vehicle. |
cody
Citizen
Username: Cody
Post Number: 446
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 26, 2003 - 10:54 am: | |
There are also similar restrictions (no parking 9-12,1-4 I believe) on the streets around Columbia HS and the Board of Ed. offices. If I'm not mistaken they were put into effect to prevent students/staff parking there for entire days (the parking lots at CHS aren't large enough for the volume of cars involved).
I think most of the elementary schools in Maplewood have similar prohibitions on parking across from the schools. I can't speak for the South Orange schools. When they were put in place at my child's school I did question what PTA volunteers who were there for long periods of time (Library Volunteers, for example, who are there for an entire morning or afternoon) were supposed to do. The answer I got was "park down the street and walk". This was a number of years ago and now everyone accepts that the restrictions are there and most people observe them. |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 2254
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 26, 2003 - 12:04 pm: | |
Dear Kibbegirl,
I’ve been there and back here in Maplewood. Taking away public street parking, especially in residential areas is one of the most spiteful, lazy, and inconsiderate things neighbors and the governing body can do. A few thoughtless people who find it necessary to block someone’s driveway, is absolutely NO reason to stop everyone else from legally parking on a street. The blocking of a driveway anywhere in the world is illegal and subject to fines and/or towing.
Anyone who experiences this rude and dangerous practice should take the license plate number, call the police and demand that a summons be issued. If the police don’t come in time or don’t issue a ticket, the resident can do it on their own as a citizen’s complaint and go to court against the violator. It would also be best to take a picture of the vehicle if possible.
I believe you may have an advantage over me. I fought a similar problem with a few neighbors who rather than have the town enforce ordinances already on the books, had them ban over 70 parking spaces on Elmwood Avenue. After almost a year I was lucky enough to get back four spaces directly in front of my home. In your case, not like mine, there are many people who depend on Turrell Avenue to park and walk their children to school. Therefore, I suggest you fight it, and begin by having those who agree with you to sign a petition demanding that the ordinance be either repealed or modified to accommodate all your needs when dropping off and picking up your children.
As you can see from the comments thus far, everyone comes up with a reason that suits their own purpose. However, there are many ways to skin the cat. Best of luck, and please contact me if you need any help. Art
|
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 1531
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, December 27, 2003 - 11:28 pm: | |
Kibbegirl,
Yes, I think you should find out the reason for the ordinance. If the town cites safety reasons for the kids, that's one thing. It would be an entirely other thing if, instead, it was about cars blocking people's driveways.
If it is the latter, then Duncan, I'd like you to explain what you said. Blocking driveways is already illegal. If the police are available to give tickets for that, they they can and should. If they're not, then they're not available to ticket for the new rule. A new law doesn't suddenly make an old law obsolete, nor does it make it more enforceable. I don't think enforcing the new one is any easier than the old one. Yet I see this as part of a disturbing trend.
Speaking of parking, some time ago, some MOLers said that it's generally rude to park in front of a house if you're not visiting that house. I notice that the outlook on my street is different, and I like the local culture of my street. People park anywhere, including in front of my house. A police officer often visits the neighbor directly across from me, and he often parks his patrol car at the curb on my house. There's plenty of space on my street, so nobody loses anything.
Tom Reingold
There is nothing
|
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page