Editor:
I’ve enjoyed reading the many articles the NOW has had about parking issues in Burnaby, plus the recent letter to the editor about a local renter leaving nasty notes on the windshields of his neighbours.
I identify with this because renters have it tough when it comes to parking. I was renting at a house in Burnaby that had multiple suites. Only two tenants were allowed to park on the property and I was the newest so I had to park on the street.
In the Metrotown area, it’s very difficult to find street parking anywhere. My street at the time was no exception. Many of the homeowners parked their trucks and RVs on the street for long periods of time. I would have parked on a different street, but those were all full of vehicles as well.
Sometimes I would drive around for 20 minutes trying to find a place to park. Think about having to walk six blocks carrying your groceries because you can’t park close to your home.
On those occasions when there was street parking near my house, I would get hassled by the homeowners for parking in front of their houses. They would leave notes threatening to have my vehicle towed if I parked there for more than two hours. I even got yelled at once.
It’s a public street and they don’t own the spots, but they hold all of the power. And so I did something that was so wrong because I didn’t have many options – I paid a bribe to one of the homeowners. I coughed up $100 a month so if I parked in front of his house, he wouldn’t call the city on me. I'm not sure if I was violating any rules, but I had heard there were time limits to how long you can park.
It seemed like a small price to pay but it still stings that I did it and that this jerk accepted it.
I am now thankfully in a building that has assigned parking. I won’t go back to a situation like that again.
T. Beatty, Burnaby
