Doreen Dwyer
Jan. 26, 2013 By Christian Murray
A petition has formed calling on elected officials to scrap their proposal to introduce alternate side of the street parking in Hunters Point.
The city, following a volley of requests from residents, put forward a detailed proposal earlier this month to introduce alternate side of the street parking—between 45th and Borden Avenues (west of Jackson Street) to enable street cleaning. Those who support the measure claim the streets are filled with litter, waste and unsightly garbage that need to be swept.
However, last week, Doreen Dwyer, who has lived in Hunters Point for 60 years, crafted a petition that is opposed to the proposal. Her petition, already signed by nearly 90 residents, argues that street cleaning is unnecessary and that “the recent spike in litter, debris and dirt on our streets is largely due to the intense amount of construction everywhere.”
Dwyer’s petition argues that street cleaning would be “enormously inconvenient, impossible even, for some drivers to be available to move their vehicles because they are usually at their workplaces.”
The petition also argues that “homeowners are actually responsible for keeping their property fronts tidy, as are business owners and both are subject to hefty Sanitation fines.”
Dwyer said that the city’s proposal to bring alternate side of the street parking to LIC was largely inspired by a group that put a petition together last year calling for the change. It generated about 290 signatures over several months.
“Most of us who opposed street cleaning didn’t even know of their petition, so we put one together of our own,” Dwyer said.
Featured Events
9 Comments
Cars are never the issue (Jon), its the people. And its always those who just rent here and party elsewhere because there’s more space for your money; and not really live here. Jon its hypocritical to attack car owners when you I’m sure have used zip-cars, a taxi and definitely have friends whom cars to your benefit.
Alternate side parking never works! Streets are only free of litter for that morning after the truck passes through. Because now the trash is kicked up onto the sidewalk and as well the same litter bugs will just keep littering the next day. Fix the source not the people caught in middle. More trash cans on every corner and fine the litter bugs not the home or car owners. See someone littering? say something.
Imagine Alternate side parking in effect…Cars double parking, engine idling, fumes from exhaust double in amount, more cars honking at each other… all this as you USED TO walk to the train station or walk your kids to school, or walk your dog in the mornings and evenings in a pleasantly calm environment.
I am a home/car owner and agree home owners should do their part to keep their area clean. No one is excused from a neighborhood responsibility. Besides its the law anyway.
There’s already a parking problem because the tower-dwellers who have swarmed into the neighborhood in the last 20 years, despite having plenty of disposable income, don’t want to pay to park their cars in those towers’ garages.
Anyone who’s lived in NYC long enough enough that all street cleaning doesn’t really work. It’s not like hiring a maid for your luxury condo.
Street cleaning doesn’t even do the job right, but just pick up dust. Plus they flash through the streets and miss everything, and never come back till next week.
I just signed the petition to ban opposite side of the street parking this evening! It’s the first I’ve heard of it.
I’m with you Doreen!
If you want a car, go live on Long Island or in New Jersey.
No Jon, I live here. This is my home and I plan on staying. I don’t know who you think you are but I know you. You’re just another arrogant new breed passing through LIC that thinks everything is about you. Well guess what, it’s not.
You will be back in Kansas or wherever it was you came from long before I’m out of here.
Brava, Doreen!
Homeowners and businesses are subject to fines for trash on the sidewalks and 18″ into the street. If there are cars parked for prolonged periods of time, the street under them can be cleaned with a hose.
Car owners move their cars to use them, and probably can find the same spot (for now anyway) when they return. As a person who lives with alternate side parking, I recommend you avoid implementing it in your neighborhood.
We are grateful for any holiday or snow day when it is suspended. We drive around at night looking for a “good” spot for the next day. We arrange our social life around our ability to find a spot on the “good” side. We do not use our cars if it is parked on the “good” side. “Sorry, I can’t come for Sunday dinner, I am parked on the good side.”
We have to decide if we are going to bundle up and go out with a fever to move the car or risk a $100.00 fine. We rush out to move the car when a “good” spot opens up, and some people even fight over a “good” spot (I was here first…) or people stand in the spot to “save” it for the driver.
I commend Doreen for starting the petition. I encourage everyone in LIC to sign it. Go, Doreen!
Let’s keep the streets filthy so that certain people can leave their cars on the streets all week while simultaneously enjoying a 5-min. commute to midtown.