ALLENTOWN, Pa.\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Allentown City Council on Wednesday night heard from several downtown residents with complaints against the Allentown Parking Authority and about snow removal following the Jan. 25 snowstorm.<\/p>\n
South Jefferson Street resident Enid Santiago criticized the APA for continuing to enforce 72-hour parking limits for on-street parking in the wake of the snowstorm.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have snow all over the city right now,\u201d Santiago said.\u00a0\u201cWe already have a parking crisis. I am personally not affected by this because I am lucky and privileged enough that I have a huge driveway where I fit all my vehicles, but there’s no reason why all my neighbors have to deal with this harassment that is happening right now. It is targeted harassment of poverty. If you park for three days in front of your house, your car is getting towed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Santiago cited instances of residents moving their cars to go to the grocery store, and upon returning home, parking in their previous parking space, only to be ticketed by APA.<\/p>\n
Santiago said parking officials have defended their policy, saying a best practice for residents should be to park in a different parking space when returning from running an errand.<\/p>\n
Two residents complained about the city\u2019s lack of empathy when attempting to remove snow in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n
Center City resident Milagro Canales said she and her neighbors recently experienced a snow removal effort that she described as looking less like a city service and more like a tactical raid.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt 12:22 a.m., our streets were filled with blaring sirens, flashing lights, and voices shouting through bullhorns threatening to tow our vehicles without any prior written notice,\u201d Canales said. \u201cNow, while we all want clean streets, the method used by the police department was an unnecessary escalation that caused deep distress across our community. The sound of sirens isn’t a signal of safety; it is a signal of crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n
Canales said residents in more affluent areas received digital alerts and flyers that said the city was clearing snow.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe get bullhorns, and the disparity is glaring,\u201d she said. \u201cA towed car in this neighborhood can be the catalyst for a family\u2019s total financial collapse. By bypassing the courtesy of a notice, you are gambling with our livelihood.\u201d<\/p>\n
Allen Street resident Rebecca Ramos also raised an issued about the loud sirens.<\/p>\n