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I just
read a New York Times article, dated
November 16th, 1932
with a headline of “COLONY WINS BAN ON OUTSIDE PARKING “Point
Lookout (
Long Beach
) Taxpayers Charge City Autos Block Their Streets.
Warmer
weather is hopefully around the corner and with that we will once
again have the usual influx of summer rentals and visitors which
will exacerbate our parking situation.
Many
residents feel that there should be NO ON THE STREET PARKING at
all because it is dangerous for our children who are used to
running from their yards and playing in the streets. They also
believe that our town would be more secure at night, if this ban
would be enforced, because the police would stop and investigate
any vehicle parked on the street and issue a summons.
I
believe we must accommodate the needs of our entire community.
I support handicapped parking.
Additional handicapped parking on
Ocean Blvd.
has been approved by the TOH. Some members of our community state
that we need still more while others state that we need less. They
argue, and I have witnessed it personally, that many people have a
handicapped parking permit but no handicap. I am sure that many of
us have encountered similar instances. Conversely, I have also
witnessed handicapped individuals that could not enter or exit
their specially equipped vehicles, because they require 8ft of
clearance in order to open their doors and descend from their
vehicle by means of a specially designed elevator platform. This
platform is surrounded by a 2 to 3 inch lip so that the occupant
does not roll off the platform as the individual ascends or
descends. The outside lip, parallel to the vehicle, drops once the
platform rests on the pavement and enables the individual to exit
perpendicular to the vehicle. Basically they require two parking
spaces to safely enter or exit their vehicle. Please keep this in
mind next time you see a handicapped vehicle. Remember the adage;
“Their but by the Grace of God go I”. In fairness to
all, the issuance of a handicapped parking permit must be more
rigorous i.e. the need more defined. I urge all of our residents,
since I believe that this is an issue we can all agree upon, to
prod our legislators to enact such legislation.
I
also believe that we must enforce the No On the Street Parking
This
includes cars parked in a driveway that overhang onto the street.
We must also include all of the vehicles that are parallel parked,
half on the sidewalk and half on the street. The safety
issue is one and the same whether you park in the street, hang out
onto the street, or straddle the street. The aesthetic factor is a
bonus.
We
can serve the needs of the entire community, maintain the
uniqueness of our town and enhance our security by demanding that
the police enforce the parking regulation as stated above. We must
also insist that they check the handicapped parking permits with
emphasis on the temporary permits.
Lastly,
please don’t forget to call the TOH Dept of Traffic at 516 489
5000 ext 3242 or 3243 if you are having a party to get your
parking waiver. This must be done at least 4 days prior to your
affair.
Please make a
mental note for yourself, inform your friends, neighbors and
guests so that they will not endanger our children and help us
preserve what makes our Point special. It will also prevent a
drain on your finances by avoiding that Parking Ticket.
Thank you. Enjoy a Happy St Patrick’s Day, and holiday Easter
and Passover greetings to all.
In
celebration of Earth Day your civic association will sponsor a
beach and ball field cleanup on Sat April 22 at
8:30 AM
rain or shine. Give us an hour and a half of you time.
Next
General Meeting on Sunday April 23 at
5PM
followed by Thursday June 8th at
8PM
.
Herb Abbe
President
hatu2002@optonline.net
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