LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Posted on 16 January 2014 by LeslieM

North Pavilion Beach Sticker Parking

Dear Editor:

A LOT of residents are very upset and passionate about this.

My husband and I have been property owners in Deerfield Beach since 1981. We decided to stay here when we had our 3 sons because we loved that the city was family-oriented, and we all love our beautiful beach.

When our boys were old enough, they started to enjoy all our beach has to offer, they skim board and surf whenever possible.

We have always purchased beach parking stickers so that we could park in the North Pavilion parking lot, where it is the only part of our beach that surfing and skimming is allowed.

Imagine my surprise when I went to City Hall on Jan. 2, purchased my 2014 sticker (which is in the 700s; almost 1,000 stickers issued as of 1-2-14) proceeded to the beach, waited 45 minutes for a spot to open up in the pavilion, only to find a parking ticket on my windshield when I returned to my car!

Never was I advised we could not park there. I did not look at the signs, as I had no clue the commission changes the “rules.”

It is bad enough that the “snowbirds” can now buy stickers in 2014, which I accepted; after all, they do pay taxes. But now there are enormous numbers of stickers being issued and yet, the commission decides to take away one of our stickered parking lots.

It was also bad enough that restaurant patrons take our spots, both sticker and hourly beach goers, when they have valet service for them to utilize with their own lot.

Is the city SO desperate for money, they take our $100, take away a parking lot (the ONLY lot for surfers, skim boarders and wind surfers!), AND raise the hourly rate at peak time at the pavilion? Forget our families and our surfing community, really?

It was suggested to me to drop off my surfers, go park almost a mile away, and walk back to the beach (AND that is IF a spot is open) … are you kidding me?

What if one of my boys drives my car by himself? He has to park far away and walk with his boards and beach stuff? Please, I am asking you (the commission) to reinstate our sticker parking at the [North] Pavilion.

After all, you were elected to make decisions on our behalf. This was not a good decision for the people you represent.

Dee Sleight

Deerfield Beach

Comments are closed.

Advertise Here
Advertise Here