8/20/2008:

Whenever I see this Hoboken mural at the 8th Street Tavern, I always think “gosh, that sure makes me dizzy!”

However, after actually paying more attention, it dawned upon me that this artist permanently captured one of Hoboken’s biggest problems: Cars blocking intersections. Naturally, it’s a Hoboken Police car. Genius!

7/22/2008:

One Hoboken411 reader wonders, with all the parking issues our city has, why don’t they at least figure out a way to make this giant empty lot useful (if not only for a little while?)

What’s the deal with this barren lot?

“I have a question and maybe you know the answer. In a city that has never ending parking shortages, how is it that Hudson Tea has not one but TWO parking lots closed so people can’t use them? I know that they will be building on those sites at some point in the future (don’t get me started how that will destroy a historic view up Washington) but why can’t those lots continue to be used for parking in the meantime?”

(I asked: but it has steel beams already pounded in, etc…)

“There still are about 60 parking spots unused and unobstructed…”

Good question! Why not use it for something beneficial for the short-term?

7/11/2008 Update:

Whoops!

Looks like Hoboken411 gets action once again!

Now, the city website has a “Notice to all Hoboken residents”:

“City of Hoboken residents that own a Hoboken Residential Parking permit have been requested by the New Jersey Motor Vehicles Commission (NJMVC) to remove their Permit Decal from the front of their windshield to the rear of their vehicles to balance the many important issues involving the public at large. “

Maybe if they had listened to people who raised the red flag about this in the first place when John Corea introduced these oversized RFID decals Hoboken’s motoring pubic wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place!

READ THE ORIGINAL JUNE 2008 ARTICLE AFTER THE JUMP…

[Click to continue reading the rest….]

7/9/2008:

Here’s a real good photo timeline of “privileged parking” in action in Hoboken!

Submitted by Hoboken411 reader (and occasional contributor) estevens. Thanks again!

In plain sight

So I’m at 2nd and Washington and a Mercedes SUV pulls up and parks illegally on the corner. Mark Settembre, partner in URSA - as in Tarragon/URSA (Northwest, Northwest Edge Redevelopment) - exits the vehicle and sits down at the Brass Rail’s sidewalk café.

Of course, the parking privileges are what first caught my eye. But the real question is: Why is the Chair of the Zoning Board lunching with Hoboken’s mega-developer? This is the third time I’ve seen them (the first two times at Tutta Pasta). Also… Lisa lives at One Marine View Plaza (4th and Hudson). Why does he drive to the Brass Rail (Second and Washington)?

See what did (and didn’t) happen after the jump!!

[Click to continue reading the rest….]

7/8/2008:

Hoboken411 reader “mcgato” wonders about this private parking sign uptown:

Reserved on-street parking?

“I run by here quite frequently and hadn’t noticed that there is reserved monthly parking on the south side of 15th Street just east of Hudson (see attached picture of sign). Maybe it is new or maybe I am just oblivious to my surroundings. So how do I get reserved on street parking near my place? Or how do I get a stretch of Hoboken streets to rent out on a monthly basis?”

7/3/2008 Update:

Just to “add fuel to the flame,” a different Hoboken411 reader sent in another picture to back up the lack of street cleaning violations this van got yesterday.

“Why can’t everyone catch a break like this?” One person asked me on the street last night… My response: “I don’t know the real answer, but I reckon is has something to do with WHO you know…” In fact, a few years ago I called the HPD asking for a street-cleaning courtesy because I was waiting for the roadside assistance to come jump a dead battery. You know what happened? I got a friggin ticket anyway.

7/1/2008:

Here’s another reader email about yet additional incidents of “privileged parking” in Hoboken:

Yo, Stan, what up?

“What’s the deal with Stan’s Sports? There seems to be lots of guys walking in an out of that place that don’t appear* to be in the sports industry. I dunno. Just a hunch. Jimmy Farina’s a regular visitor. I’ve also seen Chris Campos. Are they counting cards or something? And they don’t seem to be a well stocked sports store. Someone told me they supply the city and schools with sports equipment. Sounds like something that leads to privileged treatment. As in this morning when the street cleaner officer issued tickets to the vehicles in front of and behind the Stan’s van but did not ticket Stan’s van. And a few minutes later Jimmy Farina walked in. What’s the scoop on this place?“

7/2/2008:

Here’s a quick and dirty Hoboken411 reader submitted pic of a cop & a hydrant.. with a simple no-text email with a subject “Who Tickets Him?” Sort of goes along with today’s “Why is it that…” post.

6/26/2008:

Here’s a mini photo slide show of the privileged handicapped parker getting a free pass.

On a side note, I heard that this “privilege” will be revoked soon, and those that “allowed” it, shouldn’t have. Burn!

PHOTO GALLERY (HOLD MOUSE OVER IMAGE TO NAVIGATE - 5 PHOTOS IN THIS SET)

Read original update after the jump…

[Click to continue reading the rest….]

5/22/2008:

When it comes to parking, people get blocked in different ways. Usually it’s a double-parker that prevents you from leaving.

As mentioned already in the rant section today, here’s what happens when a person is so desperate to park that they squeeze so tightly in, that they make it impossible for you to leave. Parking douchebag!

In an unrelated note. Did you know that the iPhone saves photos as “photo.jpg?” It doesn’t add sequential numbers to the filename. That makes it a pain to save attachments, because they’re all the same filename. I have to create a new directory for each photo I receive.

5/5/2008:

Here’s some proof that the Hoboken Police Department doesn’t give preferential treatment to celebrities (not all of them at least).

Hoboken411 reader “Gooch” took these pictures yesterday after the Arts & Music Festival. Steve Van Zandt (who played Silvio on The Sopranos) gets issued a summons from a HPD officer!

Will he pay his ticket, or show up in court to fight it?

PHOTO GALLERY (HOLD MOUSE OVER IMAGE TO NAVIGATE - 3 PHOTOS IN THIS SET)