If you think cars are a problem, get rid of your car, not your neighbors

There's a push in D.C. to selectively bar DC residents from getting Residential Park Permit (RPP) stickers. 

Developers of new buildings, as an incentive to winning approval for their project, will agree to bar provisions that bars its residents from RPP.

I no longer own a car because, at this particular point in my life, there wasn't much need for one. But, nonetheless, feel very strongly about this issue: To create a class of citizens permanently barred from RPP is wrong.

David Alpert, at Greater Greater Washington, recently summarized the issue. It begins: 

Councilmember Tommy Wells re-introduced legislation this week to let a developer of a new building promise that tenants can't get stickers to park on neighborhood streets, if they choose to offer such a guarantee to neighbors. 

People who end up in RPP-excluded building are going to be a permanent of class of very irritated residents. I would not be surprised if the buyers of these units have no idea that they couldn't get an RPP. Many condo buyers only learn after the fact that they can't rent out their units because of condo-board limits. First time condo buyers don't know how things work, and first time DC residents won't either. Sellers and agents tend to leave out the unpleasant details.

Life changes. Someone buys a unit in one of these buildings. Their job is relocated to outskirts Va. They now need a car. Tough luck on parking.

It is wrong to take away rights from a group of people who have no input into it. Anyone who thinks this is a solution is selfish.

If you think cars are a problem, get rid of your car, not your neighbors. The best people live by example. The remainder run for office.