WATERTOWN, MA — The Watertown City Council will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, January 21st at 6 p.m. to discuss a petition calling for the repeal of the city’s winter parking ban. The petition, submitted by the group Watertown Citizens for Better Parking, argues that the current ban creates significant challenges for residents, particularly those living in areas with limited parking space.

The ban, which annually restricts overnight on-street parking from the first Monday after Thanksgiving until April 1st, is intended to ensure snow removal and allow emergency vehicles to navigate narrow streets. However, critics argue that it disproportionately affects lower-income residents who struggle to find off-street parking and can’t afford private options.

The group is advocating for a more flexible approach, like the snow emergency systems used in neighboring cities, that would allow parking adjustments only when necessary. They are also calling on the City Council to reconsider the policy, highlighting its negative impact on the working-class community and the environmental concerns associated with increasing paved parking spaces.

See the meeting agenda here: https://watertownma.portal.civicclerk.com/event/7559/files/agenda/10955

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