I live in a revitalized historic residential community of a major city that borders the Downtown area. Residents take pride in this exclusive urban area. Sadly, outsiders do not.
In their quest to park vehicles without paying fees to rush to cultural, entertainment, and recreational venues, non-residents always violate parking ordinances. The local parking authority has remained very inconsistent in holding violators accountable by issuing citations or towing illegally parked vehicles away. This has become more problematic throughout the pandemic. This issue has also grown into a much larger one.
The drivers of many different huge tractor-trailers including those that haul multiple cars, vans, and smaller trucks became empowered to litter the community with their vehicles. They parked there because they knew they could without receiving a consequence. Sadly, our residential streets have been converted into a massive storage area and an extensive holding place for these oversized trucks.
Even broader issues have erupted because of this.
- The city street has not been able to sustain the weight of these tractor-trailers. Huge potholes, cracks, and buckling caused the street to be damaged. Tax dollars have been spent repaving the road very often.
- The residential feel of the community has vanished because of the lines of trucks that remained parked several days at a time. Some have remained for over a week. This potentially cheapens the value of the property within the neighborhood.
- The street that has been used to store the overweight trucks runs parallel to the skyline of the city. This has caused the panoramic view to becoming blemished and unsightly.
- Because the region is near stadiums, parade routes, and the riverways, celebrations that include fireworks are often held. The long street in question is a place where families often gather because it provides a great vantage point for them to be a part of the celebrations. Families were unable to enjoy the huge citywide fireworks on the Fourth of July because numerous trucks blocked their view.
- Commuters who work in the heart of the city and typically pay to park on the street could not because the trucks blocked the parking spaces. These individuals were forced to locate more expensive parking options. Additionally, guests who attended events at the arena located in the community were also excluded from the usual convenient parking.
My Response
I was forced to take action that included adhering to the chain of command within my municipality and community. A lot of time was spent engaging in the following activities to find a resolution to this problem.
- Numerous messages and telephone calls were made to the local call center where problems are reported. I even researched parking ordinances and cited them during my calls. Despite the passionate telephone messages I left and conversations that I had with call-center representatives, tractor-trailers continued to park in the community.
- I called the local police department several times and 911 to no avail. It even seemed as though one of the responders chuckled as I described the problem that existed within my community. The police did nothing to remove the trucks. I even witness police vehicles drive past and ignore the illegally parked trucks.
- A phone call of desperation was made to a news station. Sadly, the report let me know that they were not interested in investigating the situation nor reporting on the problem.
- I sent an extensive email to the city council person representing my community. Copies were sent to several staff members within their office, too. Despite their desire for my vote in the future, no one had the courtesy to respond to my concern.
- I reached out to the president of the local homeowner’s association. Out of all those that I reached out to, that person was the only individual who displayed any interest in the concern. They assured me that they would follow up on the problem.
Within a few days after the last person I reported to promised a resolution, I noticed that the tractor-trailers disappeared. They were moved. Finally.
My beautiful community has been restored. And, I am thankful.
The Moral of the Story Is My Conclusion
When any concern exists that adversely impacts you or your environment, it is important to speak up.
You must remain relentless about holding those who can solve the problem accountable for doing so. Unrelenting attempts will ultimately cause your voice to be heard.
This situation reflects an example of community engagement. Community leaders are responsible for responding to any concerns members of their community presents to them. These leaders are responsible for solving them.
My voice helped to solve a community problem.
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Here is my golden ticket that helps me accomplish my mission.
Dr. Deborah M. Vereen is a retired Teacher and School Administrator. Her website is www.Drdeborahmvereen.com and her YouTube Channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS1DPhBeA29UlybU9jzDkdQ.
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This post was previously published on Medium.
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