"Sidewalks are for People"
New York City Police Commissioner William J. Bratton recently suggested that police officers parking illegally and running red lights is the first step towards "corrupt acts, even brutal acts." In Joyce Purnick's "Metro Matters" column of Thursday's New York Times Bratton explained that illegal parking by cops leads the department further away from a culture of "respect." Some precincts have already tried to cut down on the problem, but sanctions must come from the officer's supervisor, who may or may not take action. Many officers and cadets live outside of New York City, and the park-at-will privilege is an added incentive to drive. Ironically, Purnick notes that police usurpation of available parking spaces convinced at least one merchant to leave his car at home and take mass transit from New Jersey to Manhattan, adding credibility to recent research that links the supply of parking to the decision whether or not to drive a single occupant vehicle. Communities around the city have problems with illegal police parking. Rev. Bob Castle of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Harlem said it took years of protest to get officers' cars off the sidewalk in front of his church--but now they've moved down the street a bit, parking on the sidewalk between the church and Junior High School 43. Said Father Castle, "Sidewalks are for people. Streets are for cars. This is a sign of disrespect." Perhaps Commissioner Bratton's attention will help the City to realize that turning public space over to car parking has a real bearing on quality of life. Father Castle, sounding exasperated, asked the obvious question: "Why can't they take public transportation?"
