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!

7/9/2008:

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….]

7/3/2008 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.

4/16/2008:

What will you see on your next walk around town?

You wouldn’t believe the stockpile of photos I have collected. It’s mind-numbing. Almost to the point where it’s unmanageable unless I hire a “graphic inventory specialist.” One day, one day.

Anyway, here are two vehicles somehow attached to or owned by some public officials. One Senator, and a “Deputy Mayor.” Other than the goofy boot on a cop car, I’ve never seen a public official get a ticket.

3/29/2008:

Here’s a few pics myself and some Hoboken411 readers collected for some recent (and blatant) parking offenses committed by either local city employees, or those “connected” to some.

Too close, or blocking intersections either near city hall, or right in front of the Police Station!

I got a ticket once for having my bumper not even on the ambiguous white line on the curb, and these people park where they feel like it with no repercussions.

Like I mentioned last summer, the city should step in (via eminent domain if they must) and create a 4-story parking complex in the lot by Barnes & Noble (oh, don’t you hate when some people call B&N “Barnes & Noble’s?” drives me nuts). Make city employees park there, and create more parking for visitors at the same time.

3/13/2008 Update:

Seems as if this offender is a “Super Repeat Offender!”

The original reader send more pics in from multiple days without summons or action:

“Our 4th Ward NYC Homeland Security vehicle is at it again this week, parking wherever they please, receiving no tickets.

Pictures were taken Monday on Newark St. with the cross street being Adams St. In front of Dunkin Donuts. The rest were taken Tuesday on Jefferson St. with the cross street being Newark St.”

See the rest after the jump…

[Click to continue reading the rest….]

2/26/2008:

Decided to lump to categories in one for this entry. A reader sent in a picture showing a frequent incident in Hoboken, where the parking is so tight that it’s next to impossible to exit the spot, and another picture I took yesterday of the Fire Chief’s SUV (and another car) happily parked on the sidewalk near City Hall.

“Eating” is official business, you know?

2/1/2008:

More mis-placed City vehicles parking in Hoboken again. This time on a sidewalk.

Here’s what one irate Hoboken411 reader has to say:

“I Couldn’t cross the street this morning with a stroller thanks to Hoboken’s wonderful city employees. Corner of Willow and Newark. These guys need a stern talking to Mr. Safety Director Bergin. This takes the cake.“

1/25/2008:

I’m not sure what to say about this letter sent to Hoboken411.

For starters, it’s focused on former drunk councilman Chris Campos, and what is supposedly his new car. I recall his car being a sedan, and would hardly think this station wagon with storage bay on top would belong to a single man. Doesn’t seem right.

With that being said though, the car that was illegally parked (two instances) DID have a city placard in the window, thus it qualifies for entry in today’s “City Offender Zone.”

Here’s what the (VERY IRATE) reader had to say. He “yelled” a lot:

“Maybe you can answer this for me or one of your readers because I can’t seem to get any answers.

How is it that Chris Campos continues to perpertrate a fraud on the public by casting himself off as a current Hoboken public official? Why is it that Campos still has his City of Hoboken issued parking decal badge for City Council members on the dash board of his mercedes as if to pass off he is a Hoboken city elected official?

Yesterday at approximately noon his car was double parked in front of a bus stop with his flashers going for over an hour with the city’s issued parking decal badge. Today, we was parked over the line at a handicapped spot with the parking meter LONG EXPIRED and yet he did not get a single parking ticket. Is he immune from parking tickets while the rest of us continue to get hit with parking tickets just because of his parking decal in his dashboard? And why does he still have a parking decal when he is NO LONGER a public official?

How is it that he’s able to get away with using City of Hoboken credentials to pass himself off as a public official and why isn’t his car ticketed for being parked at an expired parking meter. Does his arrogance ever end? Why hasn’t the city demanded he give back his parking decal? Can anyone answer the question? I have attached pictures to prove he was parked at an expired meter and over the handicapped line with the CITY OF HOBOKEN parking decal in his dash board. How does he get away with these abuses while the rest of us can’t even park without getting slammed with parking tickets??”

A Concerned Hoboken Taxpayer