Rating: 14
New Haven's new street sweeping program (started April 2018 -> edited, this is incorrect, it's just that street sweeping starts in April and I read it incorrectly) disproportionately affects new residents (especially students) of New Haven. Current temporary signs are inadequate, and the program seems to be a way for New Haven and the towing companies to make money. My husband and I just moved to New Haven (where a lot of graduate students live) two weeks ago. We parked our car on the east side of Nicolls on Saturday after seeing posted signs on the west side of the street for sweeping the coming Monday morning. He is a new graduate student, and orientation (for myself and for him) started Monday morning. When we walked down our street on Sunday, we did not see any signs posted about street sweeping for Tuesday. Tuesday morning I woke up to chaos as sweeper trucks were waiting behind ticketing officers and tow trucks literally raced down the street, breaking traffic laws by speeding and riding side by side down the road. I and other new neighbors, walked out to see our cars being towed and could not do anything. My complaint is not with street sweeping in general, or with towing when cars are left there. My complaint is that for new residents, there is NO signage indicating that New Haven does street sweeping (unless the notice is posted on your street). Additionally, the current signage does not inform residents about where to go (website) for more information about future notices. The current program is likely to disproportionately affect incoming students this fall, and for any new students with cars, I'm sure the city will be hearing a lot of complaints about this program. I moved from a major city where you get a ticket for not turning your tires in when parking on a hill and where street sweeping is weekly. I would be more than happy to comply with posted regulations and appreciate clean streets. However, the program that is in place is completely inadequate and seems to be a great way for the local tow trucks and the City of New Haven to make money off new residents (mind you, in a city where there is a significant influx of new residents at specific times during the year). Please post permanent signs, or at the very least, put more information on the temporary signs (for example, "48 hour notice," and "for more information, visit the website...," etc.). Simply writing "New Haven Police Department" and the date/time of the street sweeping/towing does not tell residents enough. Who are you serving there, the institutions who benefit from the profit of tickets and towing, or the residents whose streets you are cleaning? What a way to be welcomed to a new city.