A resident of Butcher's Hill, Jeffrey Schraeder, has taken an unscientific but interesting poll of his neighbors in regards to saving parking spaces and violence. With more snow on the way (see the Maryland Weather Blog), might make for some interesting reading. And for you policy wonks, it breaks down answers by political ailiation.
This comes just a week after Baltimore's mayor ended the sanctioned though illegal saving cleared parking spaces with furniture (pic at right from The Sun's Kim Hairston). Here are his results of the Saved Parking Spots Poll, in which 55 people responded:
"Marked" a spot 32.7% (18 respondents)
Would resort to violence or vandalism 9.3% (5 respondents)
Influenced by the Mayors decision to not uphold the law 21.8% (12 respondents)
Political affiliation:
Democrat 51.9% (27)
Republican 7.7% (4)
Independent 32.7% (17)
Liberal 25.0% (13)
Conservative 13.5% (7)
Liberal Democrats who would resort to violence or vandalism: 2 (40% of those who responded yes)
Republicans who would resort to violence or vandalism: None Independents who would resort to violence or vandalism: 2 (40% of those who responded yes)
Wrote Schraeder:
Here are some responses on the listserve:
While the sample size is small the amount of vandalism in the neighborhood seems to validate the numbers, maybe even understates it a bit. One response left that answer blank, was the person ashamed to admit that they would commit vandalism or did they object to the question? There is no way to tell so I counted that response as a No.
It is troubling but not particularly surprising given human nature. A certain percentage of the population is bound to have evil tendencies which is why we have laws and also why I think the Mayor made a mistake with her position. Vandals are obviously not bound by an internal moral sense which is why we need laws in the first place. I believe we should all feel the same sense of outrage at this behavior that we feel when rashes of vandalism and muggings sweep our
neighborhood.
Jeff, regardless of the test size and while we don't know how serious the responses are, seeing that 5 people responded they would resort to violence or vandalism is troubling. --K
No, a few truly rotten people don't have to spoil it for the rest of us. There is a law against these acts. What we need is for our government (the Mayor) to understand why these laws are necessary. We also need to make it more risky for these few miscreants by calling 311 and reporting violations. It is a $140 fine and a few citations will probably clear up the problem. Letting people know, when you see them "marking" spots, that it is wrong along with an expectation that
citations are at least possible will also help. The strength a law breaker with a lawn chair is one on one. Our strength is many on few, through the law.
Peer pressure can work wonders. Maybe in the next storm we should identify who is "marking" spots and post their names on the list. It might be harder to be a vandal if the rest of us know who they are and mark them as outside of our community.
Well, we know that 2 people resorted to violence and criminal behavior - as we were the recipients of an attempt to flatten our tires that could possibly have resulted in an accident on 95 causing serious damage or death to the driver.
Quite disturbing...
We also know that another neighbor had his windshield wipers torn from his car.
What the hell is wrong with people? This used to be such a friendly and cohesive neighborhood. Do a few truly rotten people have to spoil it for the rest of us?
Perhaps those responsible should move on and out of the neighbhorhood...and, those of you who responded that you would resort to violence, that's my sentiment for you, too...you should live
somewhere else...