Space Wars

In the midst of one of the worst natural disasters in modern history, it's interesting that people in various parts of Boston are getting so heated over Mayor Menino's decision to deal with the "space wars" once and for all. Even a city councilor challeged the Mayor...is it a surprise he's from South Boston, where the tendency is to hate all people NOT from Southie?

This is ridiculous. I have spent my entire life in Boston, mostly East Boston, and have always been one to save a sholveled space, mostly because if I didn't I'd be walking home from at least 6 blocks away.

The problem here isn't the morals of saving spaces, but rather the fact that it is legally unregulated. The penalty for not abiding by the system isn't a fine or anything, it's vandalism and violence. There is also no legal way of making sure people do not abuse the system either (as if the sytem isn't subjective in the first place!).

Last winter, I came home from work early as there was a snowstorm coming and I wanted to get a space on my block. When I arrived, I found this one family reserving 4 SPACES, all before a single flake had hit the ground. Since there was nowhere else to park, I promptly proceeded to move a cone, park in a space, then remove all the other space reservers to the sidewalk. I returned the following morning to find my car had been keyed from front to back, had 2 tires slashed, and a dent kicked into the door.

What was I supposed to do, petition my neighbors to be more neighborly? The fact of the matter is the way people in some parts of Boston deal with parking spaces before, during, or after snowstorms has gotten way out of hand. Menino is right to try to do something...I think its wrong to abide by the rules of criminals.

BOSTON GLOBE ARTICLE