What Happened

A big win this year was getting two dangerous parking spots removed near the crosswalk by my house. It was a long process – much harder than it should have been – but it proved something important: we can legally remove unsafe parking spots when they create a hazard.

What We Learned

At the Sept. 11 Board of Aldermen meeting, officials informed us that we are required to maintain 666 parking spots to keep our federal funding for beach nourishment – and right now, we have nearly three times that many. That means removing a handful of unsafe spots should not be an issue, and it certainly shouldn’t take months or years to happen.

Why It Matters

There are many other spots like that all over the island. Residents know where they are because we live with them every day. If residents can spot the problem in five minutes, it shouldn’t take Town Hall months to fix it.

The Bottom Line

Removing unsafe parking spots should be a routine matter of public safety – not a drawn-out battle. Quick action improves sight lines, keeps crosswalks safer and allows emergency vehicles to move more easily. Safety must come before revenue so we don’t wait for an accident to force change.