Wednesday, February 10, 2010

That's why no-brainers seldom are.

I wonder if we might squeeze in another rule: If you have a residential parking permit, and it snows, you have to clear the twenty-foot area around your car. If you don't, there'll be a fine.

Wait, another idea: If you have a permit, it snows, and you don't clear the sidewalk, there'll be another fine.

Jeez, who's going to be enforcing and collecting these fines? After all, the little people advocate going without police (and fire) protection.

No laws enforced? I wonder if that's the point?

Residential parking law in New Albany remains in committee, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune).

It could be awhile before a residential parking ordinance comes back to the New Albany City Council for second and third readings.

7 comments:

edward parish said...

No laws enforced? I wonder if that's the point?

Same "people" that allow vehicles parked in the same street parking spot for months.

"Well Andy, I think I'll go out on patrol"
" Okay Barney"

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Iamhoosier said...

If this was researched so carefully for over a year, why were so many questions left unaddressed? The Councilperson that introduced the ordinance didn't even know that the police would still have to be called to get a car towed.

On a more positive note, at least they seem to be taking the time to research and think about it now. That is a good thing.

The New Albanian said...

Okay, I'm going to be blunt.

When it came to TIF zones, Uptown's president, Jameson Bledsoe, was all over the Voice blog soliciting research, ideas and wanting to have a grand all-parties discussion so an action plan could be formulated.

That's great, and I say that without a trace of snide. Having a community-wide symposium on such an issue can only be good. Hats off to him for encouraging it. We really should get together and get to the bottom of TIFs, EDIT, CDBG and all the rest of the mechanisms. Really. No joke.

And yet, when it came to the parking ordinance, a year's worth of research took place secretly and surreptitiously, and in effect, was sprung on the remainder of the community outside Uptown without warning.

Why didn't the same unity imperative apply here, too? Where was the outreach to the other neighborhoods and their associations? We all could have appeared at the council meeting. Wouldn;t the chances have been better that way?

Instead, a small group foisted it on the rest, and now is amazed that there could be opposition. Why, it's obvious! Jeffersonville does it!

No, sorry, it isn't obvious. Nothing is obvious in the Open Air Museum. Not being unable to defeat Steve Price by splitting the primary vote three ways, or making one stronger association where there were two weaker ones, or the simple fact that the urban area is not the exurb.

I feel your pain, RemCha, but you at least have to go through the motions of walking the walk after talking the talk. You have to reach out and try to get consensus even if, in the end, the overwhelming odds are that New Albanians will continue to prefer isolation and fragmentation over unified action. I welcome you to try where others have failed. But the tactics behind the parking ordinance won't cut the mustard. They encourage resistance, not cooperation.

Damn -- that's more cynical than I thought. Maybe more coffee is needed.

The New Albanian said...

BTW, the comment I removed was Chinese spam.

G Coyle said...

Can they roll out the parking permit program of which you speak only in the Uptown neighborhood? Have that group run it a year as a pilot project and report back to the council on it's pluses and minuses and then let the other neighborhoods take it on.

RememberCharlemagne said...

Sorry, I have been preoccupied.

I don't know if I stated on this blog or Shirley's but the effort to have a New Albany residential parking ordinance was Mr. Bulliet's effort. As President of Uptown I was asked by Mr. Bulliet to help in his effort. After hearing Mr. Bulliet's plan and reasoning, my own personal contemplation, and members not objecting I offered a verbal support of Mr. Bulliet's efforts.

It was up to Mr. Bulliet and Diana to due what was necessary before it was brought before the council. I know due to my public support I would be tied to the ordinance and that is why I am willing to discuss it. I personally didn't think it was a big deal. As Mr. Bulliet said if it works good if it doesn't that is fine.

I do agree with you that I could of made an effort to let other neighborhoods associations know before hand. When I was approached I was newly elected and had not started dialog with other neighborhood associations. I support all efforts of cooperation. What I told Mr. Bulliet prior to the first reading is that the ordinance would be tabled for discussion and that is what happened. The committee was scheduled and discussion had. I was not asked by any council members to attend but was asked by Mr. Bulliet.

From my first involvement in Silver Grove Neighborhood Association I asked if the neighborhood associations cooperated. I was told that an attempt was made but egos got in the way. As the new President of Uptown cooperation between neighborhood associations is a personal goal. Uptown is currently working on setting up a comprehensive meeting with Pam Louks of the Indiana Urban Forestry, New Albany's Tree Board, neighborhood associations, and the public in general. I have not made any formal invitations to any parties due to Pam's availability.

I was not surprised at people’s response, in some ways it reflected my own when Mr. Bulliet approached the association.

I fear that the egos aforementioned caused the reluctance of cooperation and the lack of cooperation has caused the demise of certain groups. I am a eternal optimist and I see hope in these low points that now may be the time that those voices who wish to cooperate will be heard. As long as people remain respectful the unjust will not prevail.

Sorry for jumping around with the paragraphs

Gina, I think your suggestion of an Uptown pilot program is a good idea. I will relay it to Mr. Bulliet.