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Letter To The Editor: Tickets In Mount Vernon

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. -- The Mount Vernon Daily Voice accepts signed letters to the editor. Please send letters to mountvernon@dailyvoice.com

We have this issue every winter in Mount Vernon as long as it snows: Mount Vernon never plows through the side streets and when alternate day side cleaning, they ticket cars for not moving .

This is understandable if the city is going to clean the streets but they never do and residents do not have anywhere to park their cars; some are not even able to move their cars.

When alternate cleaning days come, the city is out in full force ticketing cars that have nowhere to go. Last year, I received a ticket for not moving my car on a street cleaning day after it snowed and I was not the only car .

The next day, I took my ticket to the court to fight it. I was there, as well as others, and I was told by the judge (Blackwood) if this sign states no parking it means no parking.

She also stated that if the streets weren't being cleaned, I have to take the issue up with the Department of Public Works. Being frustrated and knowing DPW never plows through side streets, especially cleaning up snow for people to park on side streets, I paid the ticket.

This year, with snow coming back to back just about every other week, snow removal once again through the side streets of Mount Vernon has not been done.

After I received another ticket after not being able to move my car due to being stuck in the snow, I immediately went to City Hall to the DPW and spoke to a guy at the front desk named Anthony.

I asked him why is DPW giving tickets out when you're not cleaning the streets. He stated DPW IS not issuing tickets. 

He also stated the Parking Authority was aware that they were not doing any street cleaning and have not done any street cleaning since its snowed.

I then went to the Parking Authority and spoke to a lady there and she told me the commissioners of parking and DPW get together and decided if alternate-street parking should be in effect. I told her I just left city hall and spoke to someone in DPW that stated they were not doing any street cleaning and haven't been doing any street cleaning.

The next day, I went to court to fight my ticket and saw about 15-20 people waiting to see the judge for the same complaint of getting tickets. About six people went in front of me go before the judge (Blackwood) and told her their stories of how they can't move their cars.

The judge didn't want to hear anything from the residents and made them feel like they were getting a deal by offering reduced ticket price from $75 to $50.

When it was my turn, I pleaded not guilty. 

I just feel the city is taking advantage of the residents by forcing them to pay tickets the city should have never issued. I also think the judge should show leniency with the residents if the city doesn't have their act together. 

Duane Green

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