Boston Mayor Marty Walsh might want to take back his statement that the pilot program in the South End banning space-savers is going well.
Walsh said yesterday the program “has been pretty successful, so far, and I am hoping it will be successful so we can come up with a policy once and for all to stop the discussion on space-savers.”
Sorry, Mayor, but this ban seems to be enraging residents.
Here’s what “success” looks like. On my drive home I saw a comical sign warning drivers not to park in a shoveled public spot on Upton Street. The sign not only told potential parkers that the person spent his or her valuable time shoveling out the space but wanted to make sure people knew he or she would “get upset.” Clearly, road rage is alive and well in the South End.
Jamie Fox, president of the Union Park Neighborhood Association, emailed residents about the “confusion or lack of awareness about the prohibition on space-savers.”
Fox wrote, “One resident complained that he spent money to have his car shoveled out, only to have someone else take the space once his space-saver was confiscated. ... Apparently, he felt that his expenditure should be reimbursed. I would remind this individual that his money went to have his car cleared of snow, not to pay rent on a public resource.”
In another email, Fox cautioned neighbors not to retaliate if their space-saver disappears.
“I have received several reports of space-savers being placed in shoveled parking spots within our neighborhood. ... I have also received expressions of concern for retaliation. Not only is any act of vandalism absolutely wrong, but the space-saver in all likelihood was confiscated by the city or someone other than the person parked in the space.”
This doesn’t sound like the program is going so well. Obviously, tensions are incredibly high in the city with such limited parking during the historic snowfall.
Look on the bright side — at least we have a fully functioning public transit system. Oh, wait. Scratch that!
The MBTA might be the only thing more frustrating than breaking your back trying to shovel out your spot only to have someone else snatch it up.
Jaclyn Cashman is co-host of the “Morning Meeting” show on Boston Herald Radio from 9 a.m. to noon.
Copyright © 2024 Jaclyn Cashman.
