The Hoboken Cafe 

Was anyone else but me unlucky enough to get caught in last night's web of traffic that permeated the eastern side of town yesterday? In order to park my car when I get home from work, I have to go to Frank Sinatra Dr. (I park it in a lot there since I live 3 blocks from the old Maxwell House plant that the lot is located behind), but since EVERY STREET between Washington and Hudson was blocked off starting with 14th St. and extending all the way downtown (except for 9th), I had to go all the way down Washington, then I got on to River St. thinking that I was gonna get around that way, but they diverted all traffic to steer left on Newark St., so I ended up on Hudson and then on Observer Hwy., came up Bloomfield and ended up parking down there (luckily I found a spot). Note that this was about 7:30 last night. Before that, I got so frustrated that I asked a cop on River St. why all the streets were shut down and he told me that it was some anti-crime walk or something like that. Now, this leads to the obvious question: WHY HAVE THIS EVENT AT A TIME WHEN IT CLEARLY INCONVENIENCES PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO COME HOME FROM WORK AND PARK THEIR CARS??? There's enough traffic and congestion in Hoboken already during rush hour, so why add more? Note that I don't normally have a problem with these kinds of events, but it was clearly not the right time to be having it. I should also note that it was very frustrating a few months ago when Washington St. was closed off around the same time for the Memorial Day parade, so luckily, it's only happened a few times in the past few months, but it still SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AT ALL! Sorry for the long, angry rant, but I'm sure you can understand my frustration.

Matt

P.S. Since the walk ended at 8, I was finally able to move my car after that, thankfully.

I agree with you.

They have to have these Walks, Running events and parades on the weekend and also announce parades about a week before they actually occur. I was sitting in a Thai restaurant on Washington Street and during my dinner a parade for Latin America broke out while there was traffic on the street.

Dan

People are doing this for the good of the community (such as it is), and I firmly believe it would be undersubscribed if this was held at the weekend.

It was well advertised, and planned for months in advance.

I can't see that making you drive for an extra few miles & then having to move your car is that big a problem.

But then I don't drive :o)

Sure, I guess in the grand scheme of things, driving another 30 minutes around town and then having to move my car isn't that big of a deal, but my theory is this: I saw Henry Rollins do a spoken word performance in Morristown about 3 years ago and he came up with a brilliant idea. Anyone who wastes his time (and in this case, my time was definitely wasted) owes him that time. For instance, the guy ahead of him at the airport who takes way too long owes him a few minutes and so on. While the idea is perhaps impractical, that's the thought that always pops into my head when I encounter a situation like that which can be avoidable IF THEY WOULD JUST HAVE IT AT A DIFFERENT TIME! Oh what I could do with all of those wasted hours... Sorry for shouting, but while it may be good for the community, ultimately it does more harm than good if people are inconvenienced by it in such a manner. Call me a selfish bastard if you like, but you still can't convince me.

Matt

P.S. Where was it advertised? I didn't see it advertised anywhere.

gingerrevolution said on 8/8/2001 12:33 PM

>People are doing this for the good of the community (such as it is), and I firmly believe it would be undersubscribed if this was held at the weekend.
>
>It was well advertised, and planned for months in advance.
>
>I can't see that making you drive for an extra few miles & then having to move your car is that big a problem.
>
>But then I don't drive :o)

Okay. So if YOU had been driving back at a different time it wouldn't have been a problem. So it's your fault for not working late ;o)

Joking aside.

It was advertised in the PATH station. Okay. You might have missed that. Town hall? You might have missed that too now I come to think about it. How about every realtor between the PATH & 5th? Shop windows?

Henry Rollins. What a man.

Okay. Even by your theory: Everybody who ran the race - let's say it was 1000, owes you (30mins * 60)/1000 = 1.8 seconds each.

Here. I'll stop doing anything for 1.8 Seconds.

Happy now?