By Stop! Don’t park on public streets!
After determining that several off-campus parking signs were improperly placed, Cal State Long Beach University Police quickly removed them Tuesday.
The signs, which read “Resident Parking Only. No Student Parking,” were deemed improper because the California Vehicle Code listed on them cannot be enforced on residential streets, according to CSULB University Chief of Police Fernando Solorzano.
Although some of the signs were correctly placed in neighborhoods that prohibit student parking, some signs were left in neighborhoods with no such restrictions.
“[The signs] are to deter students from parking in the neighborhood streets,” Solorzano said. “This was our effort to work with them and be a good neighbor.”
According to Solorzano, University Police placed the signs on the residential streets at the request of Long Beach City Councilman Patrick O’Donnell.
According to O’Donnell, a petition was brought to the city council by some residents who were affected by CSULB student parking congestion.
“The restricted parking comes from the neighbors, not me,” O’Donnell said.
What hasn’t been explained, however, is why an improper code was cited on the parking signs.
While we are glad University Police removed the signs, we are upset that they were placed in some neighborhoods in the first place.
Parking on streets where restrictions are clearly and fairly posted is one thing. Parking on streets with signs that warn students of possible citations or towing is another.
University Police’s placement of the the signs highlights a major problem that has plagued the university for years.
The availability of parking, or lack thereof, has been a constant thorn in the side of CSULB students and residents in surrounding neighborhoods.
Students look for parking in residential neighborhoods to avoid circling around the full parking lots on campus for a spot.
On the other hand, numerous neighbors have complained about students blocking driveways and leaving trash in the streets, according to Solorzano.
Although the misplaced residential signs have been removed, we hope University Police will think twice before putting restrictive parking signs in public areas again.
We also hope that university officials are brainstorming different ways to combat the ever-worsening parking situation on campus.
There clearly aren’t enough parking spaces on campus to accommodate everyone. Prohibiting off-campus parking with misplaced signs won’t make the situation any better.
