We’re writing to express our support for the repeal of Newton’s overnight parking ban.
As 30+ year residents of Newton, we’ve never really understood the virtue of a blanket parking ban for such an extended time period. It increasingly seems more of a burdensome relic rather than a statute of any real value.
Ostensibly, the ban is to make it easier to clear the roads during snow emergencies, but the last several winters have been very mild and low-snow.
The parking ban is yet another impediment to lower income folks who might otherwise be able to afford rent in Newton. Last year our son and his girlfriend, 20-something professionals, were looking to rent an apartment in Newton. After a months-long search they determined that none of the places they could afford had off-street parking, and that the added cost and hassle of paying for parking elsewhere made Newton unworkable for them. They finally found a place just over the border in Waltham. We’re sure their story is one of thousands of similar stories.
Something is profoundly wrong with that! Don’t we — as a city — really want to include, rather than exclude, people?
We’re voting “Yes” to repeal the parking ban.
Thank you.
Brian Menz and Federica Della Noce
Newton Highlands
