To the editor:
Years ago, I addressed the issue of cars parked longer than seven days on the streets of Riverdale. The law forbids this “storage.” Cars from all over the city were taking our spots. There were folks who left their cars parked and tootled off to Florida.
I attended precinct meetings and community board meetings. I wrote and rewrote to the press and called the offices of our local elected officials. I think maybe two cars got towed from local streets.
Then, I took on the issue of the vans, the trucks and more cars along the service route of the Henry Hudson Parkway. I accompanied a Press reporter there and a News 12 person there. At that time, someone was living in his car. Someone else from another state was running a rent a car service from there. My neighborhood looked like Jellystone Park (a noted campsite.) Not much was done.
Let the local politicians have their day in the sun and take credit. But in my mind, there’s not so much to be proud of. Either you solve the problem or you don’t. Drive along those streets -- there are still vans, car carriers, trucks, etc. hanging out. They come and go.
Yes, other places in the city have this problem, let those people wage their wars. I am complaining about the Bronx, specifically Riverdale.
Lately, no one really does very much to make our world and our neighborhood better. There were once roosters. Now they’ve roosted elsewhere. It took a lot of my time and energy to get these noisy critters gone. There are still noisy leaf blowers. The dog crap problem is worse than before. Cars are being stolen or broken into and their parts taken. I wrote about these issues for years. I even wrote about living in my car to solve the problem.
I ride the bus and the train and sometimes, I’m the only one paying the fare.
It is getting worse. I am getting older. It takes a lot of time to complain. I have to use my days wisely. I’d rather go to the gardens or the zoo or join a zoom with friends. Please someone out there join in and complain.
Judith Veder