My street has a “Resident Parking Only” sign and it is becoming a pain.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the concept. I live close to a train station and I know if there were no signs, I would not have a parking space.

BUT – I have some problems with it.

My grandchildren can’t come visit me. They get a parking ticket every time they come. When I bring the tickets to City Hall to argue about them, I am told “let them park where there is a two hour parking sign” Well, you know, that’s in front of their other grandmother’s house, almost six blocks away. If they have to park there, they are going to visit her, not walk back to my house

Not too long ago, I had a rental car (that’s another story). Before I could even find out if there was a provision for a rental car (there is), I got a ticket!!!!!!!!! Even though I had a note in the window explaining it was a rental!!!!!!

My friend who has a Handicapped sign, parked in front of my house one day with the Handicapped sign in full view, he got a ticket!!!!

I don’t want to do away with the Resident Parking Only system. What I can’t understand is the City of Boston’s complete refusal to provide each sticker holder with a Visitor card. This way, people who visit us can park without fear of a $40 ticket. What is so hard about this? Cambridge – a city with the same parking problems as Boston – issues a visitor card with each parking permit. If they can do it, why can’t we?

I keep asking people - like our City Council Candidates – this question. I get nonsense like - “oh people will sell the visitor cards” No. The majority will not. Maybe some will, but the majority will not.

This smacks yet again of our elected officials deciding what we might do and stopping us from doing it “for our own good”. – like the slot machines.

I believe God gave me free will to choose what to do or not do. Who do these people think they are to take that choice away from me?
But I digress. The question is WHY CAN’T THE CITY ISSUE ONE VISITOR CARD FOR EACH RESIDENT PARKING STICKER ISSUED?

So far, I haven’t gotten an answer.

All I know is Angela Menino’s grandchildren can visit her.
 

-30-

© 2006,Maxine Tassinari-Teixeira, All rights reserved. posted on 04/15/2007