Argenta News - The Streets Don't Belong To The Public

The Streets Don't Belong To The Public

Written by Scott Miller

Saturday, July 05 2008

Apparently the streets and public parking spaces on the streets do not belong to the public, at least as far as the City of NLR is concerned. Valentines Restaurant has continued to block the public parkiing spaces on the public right of way along Willow Street for their valet parking every home game since my last post on this issue three weeks ago. The NLR police are aware of this illegal use of public parking spaces and have elected not to enforce this violation as they probably believe a special arrnagement exists between the the Travelers and the Mayor's office.

This is how things happen with public officials who may worry more about friends than the general public who they serve.. This way works well, because the Mayor's office can say they never authoirized such a deal and it can keep going on because the Mayor's office doesn't specifically direct the Police to enforce the law. Plausible deniability....it is wonderful thing for an elected official. Problem is the public gets screwed, seeing things going on in the City that they couldn't get away and they lose faith in government and we all lose.

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But this situation took a turn for the worse over the weekend. It is one thing to block public parking when the only people who might be affected are patrons of the ballpark on game nights. However, on the 4th of July, Valentnes was blockng the parking spaces so people who wanted to watch the fireworks could not park along Willow Street as shown in the photograph above. . There was no ballgame at the ballpark on the 4th.

If the Mayor does not make the phone call to makle sure the parking ordinances are enforced at the ballpark, it will send a message. That message is any business can block the public street parking daily for the convenience of their business. I would really like to see Cregeens block the Mayor's parking spots on Main Street for Cregeen's patrons. Anyone want to bet how long that would last? So how would you justify selective enforcement?

Tag it:

Comments (14)

This has got to stop!!
Written by Levy Goddess, on 05-07-2008 23:24
This is awful. You would think that this would be embarrassing to the Mayor. That is a public street! Paid for by taxpayers money, it is not a private parking lot, maintained by Valentines! I agree I hope some phone calls are made because this is not right and at an event that should not have been a money making but a community event.

Solution:
Written by I M Strange, on 06-07-2008 01:00
PARK THERE! Dare them to call the cops to have you removed from the space. Ask to see the parking permit papers or whatever they are called. I would love to see what you'd be ticketed for: "Valet Violation", "Restraint of Tirade", "Violation of the Rights of Bill?
Make them give you a ticket for the PARKING offense. Go to court. See if the judge will uphold Valentine's confiscation.

Just the first thought that occurs to me.

Convoy
Written by Pygface, on 06-07-2008 11:02
I'm with IM. Here's a suggestion Mr. Future City Councilman:

Put out a call for a gathering prior to the next ballgame (Thursday?) where 10-15 people meet in front of the Baker House & drive, in a convoy, & park in the disputed area.

Mexican standoff (no parking valet pun intended)

Real web 2.0 meet-up stuff.

Show the power of the blog. Issue the call! And bring a video camera. Time for this thing to go viral, youtube style.

A Future Youtube Star Is Born
Written by scottmiller, on 06-07-2008 19:48
I like it!! I think I will do that sometime during the next home stand. I need to borrow a digital video camera though. I will park in the restricted spots, then gather up all the cones in a "Keep Arkansas Beautiful" effort and film whatever happens.

I'm in...
Written by Argenitals, on 06-07-2008 22:19
I've got a digital camera, Scott. I'm always up for a good public protest.

Written by reader, on 07-07-2008 00:43

IM is right...
Written by reader, on 07-07-2008 00:49
( Hmmm... tried submitting this comment once but nothing showed up so here's the second try... )

IM is right.

The only thing that will push this to a conclusion is some civil disobeience, as it were. ( Even though no one would actually be dis-obeying anything at all! )

Watch the CONES though. Make sure they just get moved up onto the grass and doesn't look for one minute like anyone is trying to 'steal the cones'. That will only cloud the issue when Valentines comes out and says that someone's stealing their personal property, or something.

Keep it about the parking rights only.

Even if someone gets a ticket... it can't possibly stick.

update
Written by Pygface, on 08-07-2008 18:54
rumor is the mayor submitted an item on the latest city council agenda allowing the travs to control parking in this area.

Doesn't submitting such an item admit that they've illegally controlled this area since the opening pitch? And if so, do we really want
1) anyone having the right to control who parks in a public street
2) even if we do, do we want an organization who has hijacked the public street controling it? Here's another idea - why don't we give the parking area to different non-profits who can control the parking & collect the money to go to a good cause each & every game.

Once again, Mayor TIF is out of control & in bed with anyone who is not a citizen, but rather an entity who can aid his cause.

F us. We just paid to build the damn thing.

rumors have it, so do the "I's"
Written by dumblonde, on 08-07-2008 19:17
Rumor also has it that apparently Mayor TIF (accronym not repeatable here) has been F-ing the city even more so when it comes to not paying certain taxes. Someone had better hold onto their balls because they're fixing to get knocked out of the park.

Written by Boudreaux, on 20-07-2008 13:16
So has anyone moved a cone to the grass and parked there?

Channeling Scott Miller
Written by Paul J, on 20-07-2008 14:24
I miss the daily updates and probing commentary we used to see on this blog. Where can we turn for news and lively discussions about downtown NLR online?

Daily updates and commentary
Written by Eric Francis, on 20-07-2008 20:09
Greetings, Paul J! I'm hoping to have daily updates soon, but right now I'm still getting the hang of the blog software and fitting it into my schedule.

As far as probing commentary, all I can say is I'm not Scott, and the blog will have a different flavor under my administration. I hope you stick around long enough to see if it suits your tastes. And of course, YOU can offer all the probing commentary you'd like on any issue we post -- I welcome that.

Eric

Count on me too!!!
Written by Big dog daddy, on 20-07-2008 20:52
Scott email me, I'll get behind you on this parking stupidity too. If its a stand off you want you got it.