The following is an ‘Ask The Mayor’ question submitted to TLS, and the Mayor’s response. Email your questions for the Mayor to [email protected].
Question:
Good morning Mr. Mayor,
Thank you for your work on behalf of the residents of Lakewood. It is appreciated.
I suffer from chronic back pain and, quite often, every step I take is fraught with pain. I have a handicap parking placard which is of quite a benefit to me.
However, almost always these reserved spaces for people that need and rely on them, are used by people who flagrantly and illegally park there. Many view these as convenient spots to park in and do not understand or care about the need for them, for handicapped people. (I have on many occasions asked people why they park there and that is my response.)
The fine for this illegal parking is $250.00 (for the first offense). I am sure that REGULAR enforcement by our Police Department would go a long way in solving this problem. On behalf of the hundreds of handicapped residents in Lakewood, can you please help us out?
Thank you.
Frustrated and in pain in Lakewood.
Response from Mayor Coles:
I am very sorry to hear about your struggles. I will personally ask the chief to conduct enhanced enforcement for all handicapped spots in town.
Ray
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Have a question for the Mayor? Send it to [email protected]
Have a question for the Chief? Send it to [email protected]
When the LPD is finished there , please send them to the “forgotten land ” , Brooklyn !!!
It boggles my mind. We needed it temporarily for someone with a knee injury and could never find handicap spots to park in, as they were taken by cars with no handicap placards.
To all those people that respect the handicap parking spots:
Hashem should bless of you that you should never ever need those spots.
Have a nice weekend.
Good Shabbos
Goose must say that only those with handicap permits shall own in handicap designated parking spots.
Goose would also like to point out that it’s a Kiddush Sheim Shemayim that of the thousands of parking spots that BMG uses goose has never seen a BMG fellow illegally park in a handicap spot.
And Goose has scouted around BMG just to confirm this.
Instead of dinging people for parking in handicap spots, we should ding the planning board for not enforcing enough regular spots. It’s just as inconvenient for a handicap person without a spot as a non handicap person without a spot. Additionally, 9/10 times the handicap spot is not actually needed by a handicap person. The purpose of a handicap spot is so that there’s extra space and it’s closer to the building. The purpose is not to reserve a spot for handicap in a location that is short on spots. I think the law should be changed that if there are no more spots in the lot anyone can park in the handicap spot. The handicap person will have to wait for that spot just like anyone else would have to wait for a spot.
I am personally taking care of a handicap individual .
Every single step that he has to walk is really hurting him a lot. This comment section is not the right place to write down all the gory details.
Hashem should help you that you should never know what it means to be handicapped.
Just to mention one tiny detail:
I saw an elderly man in tears from the pain of having to walk.
What a selfish and entitled post.
Sorry I was replying to @me, not @anonymous.
Actually not selfish, trying to help the Klall that is waiting for spots while staring at and empty and typically unused handicap spot.
Entitled are those that think disabled should get everything they want.
BTW, parking on the blue lines next to a Handicap spot is also illegal.
So, to the geniuses who believe that they found an ideal place to park when they see those blued-out areas: No, you are not smarter than everyone else.
Maybe just a drop more ignorant.
Ray, I know this is a pet peeve of yours for a long time, re: a close family member, may they be well. Maybe we should have a dedicated individual or group patrol for just this and give out the tickets. I’m sure the township could use the money. May you and yours be safe and well.
About 30 years ago in Lakewood there was a retired person who would go around the parking lots and right out citizen tickets to those parking in the handy cap spaces.
Not sure how that works.
It takes one inconsiderate person that thinks he is the the one that deserves a parking space no matter the law. The “Me” generation is alive and well in Lakewood.
@wow your comment is so ignorant! As a handicapped person, I hope you never have to experience being handicapped!
I have a handicap placard unfortunately. I have seen people wait in the handicap parking space for their children that are shopping. Maybe they think it’s ok if they don’t shut off their motor? What is the rationale?
I have also personally gone home and not shopped because there were no handicap spots available. They are too often taken by people desperate to shop that couldn’t find a spot.
I feel bad, you should not have to go home because there were no spots available. Just curious, if the people are sitting in their car why can’t you ask them to move? I assume that’s their rationale for leaving the engine running and sitting there while they wait. Did you ask someone to move and they refused anyway? That would be beyond selfish!
I’m not denying that it’s very difficult for handicap people to walk, I’m denying them the right to not have to wait for a spot. They should wait like everyone else.