See this 2/17/2010 Email received from a 1st Street NW resident:
I know there has been a lot of debate on the issue. I just wanted to send you this photo as evidence that the parking wars are still going on. I personally think it is a little ridiculous people are still doing this. I would have been marginally more understanding last week, but there is no need for it this week, as much of the snow is/has been removed.
I found this sign on the unit block of V Street NW today.
Sounds like somebody is going to get a very good workout. :)
ReplyDeleteThat sign is over the top and seriously un-neighborly. I too was sympathetic to "reserving" parking spots that had been laboriously shoveled out during the initial aftermath of the storm. In fact, we and our upstairs neighbors were helping each other informally secure the spots we had dug out in front of our house. However, this practice has got to end at some point. I am afraid that its acceptance is leading to a misplaced sense of entitlement among some residents to street parking spots and, even more seriously, to ill will among neighbors. I had a neighbor across the street from me (2nd St.) angry with us for parking our car in "his" spot, after "our" 2 spots were blocked by a single car and my husband needed somewhere to park after picking up our 5-month-old. This type of behavior would not have been tolerated previously and yes, the grace period has ended. Instead of acting defensively, why don't we all get out and work together to clear the spaces along our communal streets?? BEFORE it turns into the Wild West out there. - Amanda on 2nd St. NW
ReplyDeleteI think if people clear a spot in these conditions, and you dont have a Zone parking sticker, expect havoc. I know 4-6 spots around my block are gone due to snow. so the conditions have not improved.
ReplyDeleteThis resident found a parking ticket on her car this morning. Annoying as it was that my only parking choices the previous night after a long days work were, bad and worse.
ReplyDeleteAdding insult to injury-I bust my hump to pay DC taxes, only to see huge mounds of snow at every corner and alleyway in the city.
The perception I have of DC Parking Enforcement stealthily cruising around in the early morning hours (6:30AM) to put a $50.00 parking ticket on a resident's car after a horrendous snow storm, leaves me feeling like black snow.
White entitlement.
ReplyDeleteI live in the unit block of S Street NW.
ReplyDeleteIs it me, or has the number of traffic cones and lawn chairs finding their way into public parking spaces been INCREASING lately? I somehow managed to park in the same space over the last two nights, and today there’s a traffic cone in it. And the space that I shoveled out also has a cone in it! How’s that possible?
So, if I plowed out my own car and I helped two other people (total strangers) clear out their spots, do I now get three freebies? Until what? July? Gimme a break!
I can see one, two or maybe even three days following a major storm, but we’re now getting into weeks.
By now, the only day that there should be any problem is on Sunday, when the weekly auto-centric church migration tends to hinder our parking abilities anyway. Jeez.
Wonder where that sign is now.....hmmmmm?
ReplyDeleteNo, the term you are looking for is "White privilege."
ReplyDeleteI have to chuckle about the anonymous comment about "White Privilege." Great opportunity to bring race into the issue when it is everyone community acting the same way.
ReplyDeleteNo, entitlement is what I am looking for. "Privilege" indicates that there is not a choice, whereas "entitlement" means there is a choice, just that one chooses to do so and others do not. The people on my block who have put signs out like this, who are putting chairs in the middle of the street, are the very same people who happen to be a) white and b) moved into this neighborhood in the past 2-3 years.
ReplyDeleteThe ones more likely to shoot, maim, rob, rape you over a disputed parking space however, are statistically proven to be black. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteHere are some pictures I took of things people used to guard their parking spaces after the blizzard:
ReplyDeletewww.flickr.com/photos/williammarlow/sets/72157623363669199
you don't shovel out a "space" or a "spot" - what you are shovelling out is your "car" - there's a huge difference
ReplyDeleteAs a life-long pedestrian,I find the whole thing amusing. Incidentally, since anything that hits the sidewalk/street becomes public domain (if you can get to it before DPW picks it up), I'm keeping my eyes open for any good items I see occupying parking spaces. I'll be sure to leave a "thank-you" note!
ReplyDeletethis totally makes me want to go park in this spot all week. ha.
ReplyDelete"Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteThe ones more likely to shoot, maim, rob, rape you over a disputed parking space however, are statistically proven to be black. Cheers!"
This is very hurtful and unnecessary. Color has nothing to do with bad behavior. Raping over a parking space??? really??? Us blacks are more likely to rape and mame over a parking space???
You need help. Im reading this post about hostile behavior over spaces and here is MORE hostility?!? its ironic and strange. That was probably your sign, and your mad someone called you out LOL!