Petition Signing Follow up

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

So the signing went fairly well, we got almost 50 signatures for registered voters in Somerville, and a fair amount from guests to the Somerville area who are also concerned about this change. I'm meeting a few people tomorrow morning for additional signatures at 8 am in front of Au Bon Pain if anyone else is interested.

There's a petition still at the Somerville Theatre for additional signatures if people are able to make it there in the next few weeks before I assume a hearing would be. As soon as I reach 50 I'll be sending the petition via registered mail to make sure it gets where it needs to go, and I have proof that it got there.

I'll let people know when I'm notified of a hearing. I do plan on following up once I know it's arrived at City Hall.

Thanks to everyone who came out, I was actually surprised to not see more people, but I know sometimes scheduling just isn't workable for an after work time window. Thanks to Somerville Theatre for hosting me and being so great, and passing along their petition for submission alongside mine. I know that DARBY met tonight about this issue, and I got a few signatures thanks to Ron bringing a petition over. I also spoke to a few people who are working on making a petition for the parking issue as well, which is great. Thanks again.

Comments

[ron_newman]

Thanks for all of your hard work. Be sure to make a copy of the petition before mailing it.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Oh I will. What else are office copy machines for? ;)

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

heck, get a copy, notarized, and make a note saying "this is the notarized copy, original being filed for authenticity/etc"...

unless they INSIST that only the original is worthy. i'd still notarize it though...

great job!

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[simianpower.livejournal.com]

Taking pictures of your butt? Oh, wait, that was a rhetorical question, wasn't it? ;)

[tfarrell.livejournal.com]

Would you be so kind as to let us know the recipient(s) of the petition? I am planning to write a letter and/or some emails, as are several friends who reside and/or own a home in Somerville, and we would like to know that we're writing to the right people.

[ron_newman]

I think the City Clerk is the proper destination for the petition ... but I'm not 100% sure.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Nope, it's Jim Kotzuba over at Traffic and Parking. The very nice lady at 311 who actually answered my question also suggested sending a copy to my Alderman, and the Mayor. Props to Eileen at 311!

[ron_newman]

A short report from Wednesday night's DARBI* meeting:

The parking changes were pretty much the only topic of discussion. Nobody at the meeting thought the proposed changes were a good idea, not even the city official from Strategic Planning & Community Development. I brought copies of geekpixie's petition for folks to sign. They may try to hook up with Union Square Main Streets and other business groups to form some sort of united effort.

Mark Chase presented some ideas on how to price and ration parking in a sane manner. They are hard to summarize here, but a basic idea is that more desirable parking spaces should cost more, there shouldn't be time limits, it should be easy to pay for parking properly without getting tickets, and there should be neither pricing nor rationing in places where less than 85% of the parking spaces are currently being used.

* DARBI = Davis Area Resident-Business Initiative. Their web site is http://YourDavisSquare.com

[simianpower.livejournal.com]

If nobody thinks this is a good idea, how does it get this far in the first place?

[ron_newman]

To be fair, there were only about 12 people at this meeting.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

If I understand the earlier posts correctly, a small number of people in the Traffic & Parking department are able to make this change unilaterally. So they're the only ones that have to think it's a good idea.

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[enochs-fable.livejournal.com]

So do we just ask at the ticket window for the petition?

Yes

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

They have the petition on a clipboard right at the ticket window inside!

[winterhill.livejournal.com]

Thanks for being there this morning too -- to catch those of us who couldn't make it last night. It was great to meet you and I admire you for taking this on.

Nice one!

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/homepage/x726818056/Start-saving-Parking-meter-rates-and-hours-to-increase-permit-parking-to-expand-citywide

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[tt02144.livejournal.com]

On the same topic.....when did the city take a city-owned, metered lot in Davis Square and turn it (after 6 pm) into a private, restaurant-controlled lot? This is adding to the problem you're fighting against. If meters now go to 10 pm, these meters will be out of commission, but you can only use them if visiting a particular restaurant. What about those who'd like to go to Starbucks, Diesel, the Theater, etc.? And are these restaurants paying the city for the privilege of using a city lot for their patrons?

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

What lot/restaurant is that? And most likely when the restaurant decided to pay them for the use of it..but that's just a guess.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

the lot next to/behind Downtown Liquors - For Gargoyles.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Interesting! I had no idea. Do we know if they pay for the usage? It would make sense..(not that I'd park there, it's stinky... )

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

I have no idea if they pay for it.