Dear Billy T and Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line,

Hi Billy,

I have a story for you, but I must remain anonymous.
It’s about new residents who are ripping off the taxpayers.
I have my own driveway, which I always use unless I am gardening and need to unload soil and fertilizer. I have one tenant who parks on the street. For the past three weeks, a car was parked in front of my house. I contacted the Somerville Police Department (SPD) and the Traffic and Parking office. The street, like others, is designated for street sweeping, so during this period our neighbors find parking a challenge.

When I notified SPD, they said, “It is one of your neighbors.” But that makes no sense. The car did have a Somerville sticker on the windshield, but it could be fraudulent. Traffic and Parking was prepared to issue a parking ticket and possibly tow the vehicle. SPD visited my residence and indicated the car would be removed. Then, something happened within the hour—another vehicle parked in its place. I can see from my windows that it has some sort of temporary pass, but I will look at the form more closely soon.

What burns me is that many longtime residents and homeowners, including landlords, have been paying taxes for nearly a century. My father purchased this house in 1930. If anyone should feel entitled to share their story and opinions, it’s those of us who have remained and never broken the law. The city should begin a full investigation into why some people are given preferential treatment while the rest of us obey the ordinances and laws.
I would also like to mention that the street sweeping is too frequent. This impacts residents’ ability to park. The city should cut it back. We never see any debris. It’s a waste of taxpayers’ money.