I do not like to use palemale.com as a forum for addressing ugly issues. I try my best to keep everything here pretty. However, there are things I believe people should know, or at least share my frustration.
Driving above 72nd Street in Central Park is illegal, period! The law went into effect on June 29, 2015.
Traffic was indeed significantly reduced since then. However, there are many cars which totally ignore this new law and there seem to be a little club, members of whom each has a different interpretation of the law.
I have tried fruitlessly to get the PEP (Parks Enforcement Patrol) and the CP Precinct to enforce this law. None of them even know the details of the law. Out of their mouths comes the most ignorant interpretation of what each cop feels is right. They make up rules on the fly, like the ones who used to tell me 'ever since 9/11 you can't take pictures of buildings--including 927 Fifth Avenue.
So one by one I record the license plates of the vehicles and I file complaints with the TLC and Police Department. The only agency that takes action is the TLC (Taxi & Limousine Commission). So my successes are only for vehicles under their jurisdiction. The process is tiresome--It involves recording the vehicles clearly, submitting online forms and testifying in court. It is a tedious process for which I get some small amount of them penalized for creating unsafe conditions in the park, but I feel it's worth the trouble.
No one at the Conservancy cares about this. The way they look at it; anyone driving a car in this Car-Free zone must be doing business with the Boathouse Restaurant, and business is what it's all about with the Conservancy.
The documents below is an example of a successful outcome of filing a complaint against illegal driving.
This case was a taxi, medallion #9D45, one of several dozens that I filed and had success.
This case is interesting, because the driver told the court that Police officers gave him permission to drive in the Car-Free Zone.
I am referred to as 'the Commission's witness'.
I told the court that Police officers had no authority to violate the Car-Free Zone Law, unless there was an emergency. I also informed the court that the event at the Boathouse was an annual NYPD dinner, not an emergency. The court ruled guilty proving that police has no authority to allow vehicles into the Car-Free Zone.
This case is also important because I pointed this cab out to a CP Precinct lieutenant on the day of the incident, who told me that the cab is allowed to drop off passengers in the park.
I made a bet with him that I was going to prove him wrong, which he agreed to.
If I lost the bet I would stop making complaints for two months. If the cop lost, he will join me in the Ramble to pick up garbage.
If anyone sees a Central Park cop walking around with his tail between his leg, please tell him I'm looking for him.
I will not keep this ugly stuff up for more than a day. Please tolerate it for just one day and I'll remove it right after.
Palemale taking a break from his kids on Sunday evening.
Palemale & Octavia's baby at the bottom of Cedar Hill on Sunday evening.