While a member of the Board of Aldermen (now City Council), I was one of the primary sponsors, in 2013-14, of increasing the overnight parking ban fine from $5 to $25. The rationale, at that time, was that a $5 fine was not an effective deterrent to overnight parking when it snowed. Since Newton is made up of many streets and it costs the City money to send the NPD to fine illegally parked vehicles, we proposed raising the fine to $25.
It’s important to remember that back then we had blizzards and strong winter storms, you remember these! April Fool’s Blizzard in 1997. The Blizzards of 2003 & 2005. “Nemo” in February 2013, and “Juno” in 2015. As an outcome of climate change, unfortunately we are no longer having significant snowstorms or blizzards which require an intense City plowing operation. As a result of the increased fine, the City has put plans in place for those who need overnight winter parking. During the pandemic, the City did not enforce the parking ban for two winters. The negative impact was minimal, and public safety was not compromised. In bad storms, the City always has the capability to declare a winter snow emergency, which bans overnight parking. The ballot question proponents are looking to the City Council to put additional plans in place to assist neighborhoods where relief is needed.
Considering our milder winters and that overnight parking does not put public safety at risk, I am asking that you please vote YES on the petition to “Repeal Section 19-174(b) of the revised ordinances of 2017, commonly known as the winter overnight parking ban.”
Marcia Johnson
Former Alderman-at-Large, Ward 2
Newtonville
