Letter to the Editor: Opposed to 7-Night Resident Parking in South Boston
Councilor Flynn is at it again, pushing policies that would turn South Boston into more of a gated community than a neighborhood.
As an 18-year South Boston homeowner and active community member, I strongly oppose his proposal to expand resident parking restrictions to seven nights a week across the neighborhood. This would severely limit access for friends, family, caregivers, tradespeople, and other essential visitors, especially on weekends, which are currently the only time non-permit holders can park without restriction.
Today, I sent a letter to Interim Streets Chief Nick Gove, the Streets Cabinet, and Councilor Flynn urging the City to reject this lazy, one-size-fits-all proposal and instead focus on practical, community-minded solutions:
- Conduct a thorough audit of active permits and require proof of residency for renewals.
- Increase enforcement of existing resident parking regulations, particularly for vehicles with out-of-state plates that are effectively being stored in South Boston while avoiding Massachusetts registration requirements.
- Explore capping the number of permits issued per household to better manage limited street space.
- Develop a thoughtful visitor pass program that preserves access for caregivers, family members, and guests, while recognizing that many residents do not own vehicles.
Seven-night resident parking restrictions won’t solve South Boston’s parking challenges. Before making it harder for people to visit family, friends, or aging relatives, the City should focus on enforcing existing rules and addressing abuse of the current permit system.
If you agree, I encourage you to contact the Streets Cabinet and Councilor Flynn and let them know this isn’t the answer. You can use my letter template here: https://www.coreyd.com/field-
Sincerely,
Corey Dinopoulos
Maureen Dahill is the founder of Caught in Media. Once a longtime wardrobe and prop stylist for brands such as Rue La La, TJ Max & Hasbro, she is a devoted lover of vintage clothing, Martini Mondays, Castle Island, AND a 4th generation South Boston native. Mother of three, married to Peter G.
I have lived in SOUTH BOSTON for 76 years. I am 100% in favor or 24/7 RESIDENT PARKING. QUESTION; WHY on SLEEPER ST the street RIGHT OFF “A” Street by the the old BARLOWS RESTAURANT and “D” STREET ( by CONVENTION CENTER) have 24/7 RESIDENT PARKING? NOBODY from BEACON HILL, BACK BAY, NORTH END, SOUTH END is complaining about 24/7 RESIDENT PARKING. I Walk up the streets of SOUTHIE every weekend and see dozens of young OUT OF TOWN people with suitcases & sleeping bags exiting their cars and TAKING UP PARKING FOR THE WHOLE WEEKEND. This practice makes it virtually IMPOSSIBLE for the residents (ESPECIALLY WITH YOUNG CHILDREN) of South Boston to take their children to sporting and social events. SOUTH BOSTON is a Neighborhood not a FREE WEEKEND PARKING LOT for OUT OF TOWN “PARTY ANIMALS”. I believe there should be designated spots for HOME HEALTH AIDES. However, If you w to come to SOUTHIE to visit relatives or friends take the MBTA , bike , or take Uber like they do in MANY PARTS OF BOSTON. Or if you drive take advantage of the parking lots located at “A” Street, SEAPORT and surrounding areas.TIME FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SOUTHIE TO STAND UP AND INSIST ON 24/7 RESIDENT PARKING!
I wish that across South Boston the parking was consistent. I would also love some type of application for a guest pass that could be used for up to seven days.
I agree to some extent on the resident parking being seven nights a week, but then I do understand that we need to bring people outside of the city into South Boston for various reasons that you have named. Maybe something for Friday evening through Sunday morning
I agree with the day/night pass. I got a ticket when I was in Southie for my dads wake/funeral. My mom still lives there and it’s a challenge trying to visit her. Parking is a challenge, I know I lived there majority of my life.
I live on K Street for 74 years All out of state plates. never tickited 24 hours 7Days all for it!!!!!!
There’s really no need to own a car if you live in South Boston is there? Transportation is nearby to go into Boston especially if your work is there. I lived in Boston 30 yrs ago and never owned a car. I worked at the Prudential and took public transportation. Depending on where I wanted to go that public trans couldn’t take me, I took a cab or rented a car.
Unless you have a family. A family where the children play sports or are involved in after school activities
The other reason of not owning a car when I lived in Southie is I never worried about finding a “parking spot” and didn’t worry about “saving a parking spot with a chair , cone ,etc .” when there were snowstorms !
I also am opposed to the proposed 24/7 resident only parking. One-size-fits-all solutions generally only fit a few. There are always people who will find a way to beat the rules, no matter what the rules are. Many sensible solutions that will help a wider range of people with legitimate parking needs have been suggested here and elsewhere without restricting the parking rights of residents. I’ve lived in Southie for over 19 years and park on the street. 24/7 resident only parking sounds good, but could come with its own unanticipated consequences, such as determining which non-residents should be allowed some sort of exemption or pass, and who wouldn’t. How to find any sort of equitable solution around that question would be impossible.
Unpopular opinion – buy or rent a parking spot!
We need reasonably priced parking garages for visitors for overnight and/or extended parking throughout Southie. Check out what Hoboken, NJ did to help solve their exact same parking issues!
We need parking garages where the Walgreens is at L and E Broadway and another near Dorchester and E/W Broadway (across from Capo). How do you have Businesses without people able to park and shop? How do you have out of town guests? I do not agree to 24/7 restrictions but that is not the true root cause. No ability to have overnight guests is the issue.
I would like to have anyone who OPPOSES the 24/7 RESIDENT PARKING to talk to the PARENTS of children who DECIDED TO STAY AND LIVE in SOUTHIE and make it a Neighborhood rather than a TRANSIENT “YUPPIE HAVEN”. AFTER COLLEGE these ( SURBABAN Privileged CHILDREN ) reside in SOUTH BOSTON fo a couple of years. Then when the PARTY IS OVER move BACK there SURBABAN ( parking ban ) HAVENS.
You are all ridiculous. What right do any of you have to say someone should not have a car just because they live in Southie. I’ve lived here 34 years. I have many needs that require a car. It’s the car owner that pays for roads and bridges. Without excise taxes roads will be worse than they are now. The city cannot eliminate cars altogether as they are too big of a tax revenue.
Corey, what ideas do you have for ending homelessness?
As a 80-year resident and South Boston homeowner, I strongly believe we should TRY what Corey D, has recommended. I feel that once we do a 7 day resident only over night parking there is no turning back. Repeating Corey’s suggestions in my next few paragraphs.
This would severely limit access for friends, family, caregivers, tradespeople, and other essential visitors, especially on weekends, which are currently the only time non-permit holders can park without restriction.
Conduct a thorough audit of active permits and require proof of residency for renewals.
Increase enforcement of existing resident parking regulations, particularly for vehicles with out-of-state plates that are effectively being stored in South Boston while avoiding Massachusetts registration requirements.
Explore capping the number of permits issued per household to better manage limited street space.
Develop a thoughtful visitor pass program that preserves access for caregivers, family members, and guests, while recognizing that many residents do not own vehicles.
Seven-night resident parking restrictions won’t solve South Boston’s parking challenges. Before making it harder for people to visit family, friends, or aging relatives, the City should focus on enforcing existing rules and addressing abuse of the current permit system.
Thank you.
As I have been saying for years, put a multi-car parking garage with multi-floors down on West Broadway, in the tiny lot they have now, just like they have in Quincy Center. Just this morning, at 8:30, I went down to CVS before I had to do something else and there was not 1 parking spot available on the street or in the public lot. I left and had to go to the CVS on Morrissey Blvd.
There are 5 (2 )hour parking spots on Jenkins Street for non residents and it is unfortunate that they are never timed….. 24/7 resident parking an absolute remedy. .Also from Andrew Square up Dorchester St to West Broadway and East Broadway connect there is no resident parking parking enforced…. Even if there is a a 2 hr enforcement for non residents…Corey you should start with the hundreds of spots that are restaurant seating out in the streets of Southie….. you haven’t mentioned a complaint about that…. That’s a huge contributing issue….if you like that…. seems to be good…. They even made F street between west Broadway and 1 street one way to put restaurant seating out in the streets… you seem to think that’s okay.. it’s a nightmare.. again you pick and choose your battles… if visitors want to visit and party all day in Southie….take an uber… take the T….. telling residents that live here to lighten up to give non residents more privileges then they have… not sure where you are in this path of resolution.. you should look at Boston residents that live and work here and pay excessive taxes to this city and the Mayor now tickets Boston residents in Downtown and Boston financial districts and shopping areas every 2 hours and you have to move your car every 2 hours off the street block or be subjected to numerous 2 hour tags…doing this to accommodate and appease non residents to have parking spots when they come to Boston and fk the tax payers who live here and have to work to survive and be inconvenienced because…… you oppose to 24/7 parking restrictions… and you want to accommodate out of towners… maybe they can get vouchers from city hall to take the T and Ubers .. your case is closed.. arguing with residents that have lived here all of our lives and have been forced with change…take your investigation down to Andrew Sq and up Dorchester St to East and West Broadway connections and fix that issue first.. it’s not what you want it’s about what Southie residents want and your fortunate to have Ed Flynn fighting for Southie.. stop opposing him.. that’s disrespectful…. Your opinion wouldn’t even be considered in Cambridge… Somerville.. Medford…Malden…Beacon Hill … Brookline….Downtown…Everett…..Charlestown…East Boston….any hundreds of other neighborhoods…. Hope this opinion helps you out.. have a great day and be kind….
I guess the residents of the NORTH END, BEACON HILL, BACK BAY, SEAPORT, SOUTH END, CHARLESTOWN all with 24/7 RESIDENT PARKING don’t have RELATIVES, RESTAURANTS and CHILDREN WHO GO TO SPORTING EVENTS. I don’t hear those residents DEMANDING the 24/7 parking be REMANDED. Time for SOUTH BOSTON STOP being a FREE PARKING LOT for NON RESIDENT.