Don't Even THINK of Parking There

Let's boycott Chase.

I use the ATM to get cash for dinner than I can park there as long as I want.

I've known about this for years. Does the Rascal's Comedy Club still lease the lot as well? I got into a verbal altercation a couple of years ago with one of their parking attendants (he was VERY abusive to me). I called Rascal's to complain and the manager told me he would send me 2 free comp tickets for a show. I am still waiting.

Let's see if I understand.

1. Chase owns the parking lot.

2. Signs are posted warning that illegally parked cars will be towed.

3. Illegally parked cars are being towed.

Seems like a simple solution. Don't park there if you are not visiting the Chase branch.

Yes, but I don't understand: When the bank is closed at night, why can't people park there? Who has the rights to the lot when the bank isn't open?

So, if you use their ATM then it's ok to park there as long as you want ? That sounds too good to be true.

a night at rascal's comedy club is about as funny as brain cancer

Yes, but I don't understand: When the bank is closed at night, why can't people park there? Who has the rights to the lot when the bank isn't open?

grj, let me see if I understand. When you are not home is it ok for someone to park their car in your driveway? It is Chases property, parking is tough but we all know that if some schmoe stubs their toe getting out of their car in that parking lot Chase will see a multi-miilion dollar lawsuit.

lol@ the chase "property manager" hanging up twice.

thats the kind of customer service I've learned to expect from my quality banking relationship with chase

Well, technically if Chase owns the lot then they have the right to do whatever they want. Even when the bank is closed, Chase is responsible if anything happens to a person and/or car in its lot. However, it isn't very neighborly to have cars towed without warning the owners first.

"does the Rascal's Comedy Club still lease the lot as well?"

Mr. Grabowsky has represented in the past that he leases the lot. Chase could care less who uses their lot at night and would never tow cars; they are not that stupid. Your anger is misplaced.

I agree grj. Makes no sense to me if the parker is parking during off hours.

Now...the McDonalds on Broad St. in Bloomfield...I've heard they've got a tow truck waiting in the wings. Don't park there and run into the P.O. down the block for stamps, otherwise, you'll pay much more than the meter'd rate on the street!!

Sure is a good way for the tow truck operators, impound lots and the town to make money.

FYI, Chase also owns a parking lot on Forest St., near Glen Ridge Ave. It has been padlocked and empty for years! I find it outrageous that the Town Council claims to be concerned about downtown parking issues but as far as I can tell no one has attempted to acquire this empty lot, near downtown from Chase. Instead they rezoned residential backyards on the same block. Of course, Chase may decide not to sell. But what the heck are they doing sitting on an empty lot with approx. 24 parking spaces in a downtown area that is hurting for parking. They are not very good neighbors.

yeah you guys are missing the boat here, the towers are the ones who profit off the towing. So to say "Chase doesn't care what happens on off hours" is wrong, the towing company probably called up chase and said, "i'll rid your lot of unwanted cars free of charge after hours" but then they get to keep the towing fee.

It makes sense, and it's totally appropriate, chase is absolutely liable if something happens in the lot, and with no supervision, and posted signs warning of towing, who could complain about that!

I used to own a parking lot that i let a bar park patrons in after my business didn't need it anymore, and it caused so many problems, liability issues, tickets, noise summonses etc. Not a perfect analogy, but in the future i made sure anyone using my parking had their own insurance etc. I'm sure if Sushi Hana or Red Cheetah needed it, they could lease it and provide insurance so it would indemnify chase.

"Who has the rights to the lot when the bank isn't open?"

The bank.

LOL. Is that like asking, "Who's buried in Grant's Tomb?"

NEXT

It's PRIVATE PROPERTY folks. There are plenty of signs posted there, I've seen them. Every single person that parks illegally in a parking lot that has signs posted warning them about tickets & towing know they are taking a risk. Usually you get away with it, but sometimes you get an annoying window sticker, sometimes you get a ticket and sometimes they tow your car. Either way you knew the risk and YOU ASKED FOR IT.

yeah, but why cant we park there????

This is nothing new to this property, the only problem I have with it is that they selectively enforce it. I know that it's their right, but they will leave the lot unwatched for a month or so and anyone can park there, then for a few weeks, they tow everybody. Then a few weeks pass and everyone's parking there and people think the policy has changed, then comes the tow trucks again. This is not the only property in Montclair that does this. Try parking in the CVS lot in upper Montclair while you go to Starbucks across the street. Try Parking in the Quick Chek/Nauna's lot and go the Tierney's or Vanity Salon across the street. Try Parking in Whole Foods lot and go to Lalazars across the street. You are lucky is all you come away with is a ticket and your car is still there. All these places have many signs that spell out the fact that you are on private property, and you can park there while you are patronizing their business. These places pay big bucks to purchase the land in Montclair and they have every right to ticket and tow people that park on their property to shop/eat at someone else's business.

It's about time they started towing people. I'm sure Chase got plenty of complaints about actual customers not being able to find room in that lot & finally got fed up. They got plenty from me. 3 customers in the entire bank yet the lot is full? Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.

At one time "You had a friend at Chase" - now they tow ya!

So now is the time for citizens and merchants to unite for a losening of parking rules and regulations and a reduction of parking fees in our township.

Time to make the township's parking situation people friendly.

They might also be worried about people leaving their cars overnight. It also might increase their insurance rates because I suspect they are responsible for what happens on their property even after hours.

My reaction is a big so-what. Haven't we, as fully formed adults, realized that: (a) a huge bank like Chase doesn't give a damn about our community and will judge everything on risk management rather than considering human beings; and (b) if you park where you are not supposed to (there's signage EVERYWHERE in that lot), you deserve to be fined and perhaps towed.

Go pay 50 goddamn cents and park in the South Fullerton lot and shut up already. Walk a block, it's good for you!

If you pull into a lot and a sign reads "tow away zone: to retrieve your car call..." and you park there anyway, you deserve to get towed. I don't care what time it is. How would you like if someone parked in your driveway and rationalized it by explaining that you weren't home at the time so what's the big deal?

yeah, but why cant we park there????

You can't park there because we live in a country where people sue each other just because they don't like your smile. If someone falls down and gets hurt, get mugged, has an accident in that lot they will visit an attorney faster than you can say, "chase". That is why they don't want people parking in their lot who are not "invitees".

We should all try and incorporate more walking in our day---regardless. Since J. Gold is not here to admonish us, I will fill the gap. Don't always try to park so close to where you are going. Walk a little out of the way. It does a body good.

"Who has the rights to the lot when the bank isn't open?"

Seems like a valid question after hearing Hillary state "I want to take those profits" while discussing the oil companies. Chase is another big nasty company exploiting us so we are entitled. Right?

I know why our population is obese. They can't walk a block and pay 50 cents. There is plenty of legal parking. I hope they keep towing these lazy people.

this towing company isn't even in town. If you want to retrieve your car you have to find a way to get to the towing yard or pay for them to bring it back to you. For $400 I hope it is at least washed and waxed when you get it back!

Is there any truth to the rumor that Ted Mattox is suing the town because there is insufficient parking in some areas?

There is plenty of legal parking.

Do you live in Montclair? Have you ever tried to park at the Fullerton deck? You are lucky to find an illegal space in this town. And fifty cents gets you one hour of parking and in some areas that's the maxium time on the meter.
I for one always thought you were allowed to park inChase's lot after hours -I have been doing so since the Japanese place was an Italian place.

I honestly don't get the parking rant about downtown. There is a massive parking garage two blocks away! Is it ever completely full? I haven't been there once when it was. Maybe I'm missing something.
Walk a few blocks people, it's good for you.

When Rispoli's was there, you were allowed to park in the lot. Maybe they had an agreement. Now you can't, so do it at your own risk. There's plenty of parking; as others said, you might have to walk a block or two.

And we're going to put a hotel on the most popular downtown parking lot.

Yes, there IS plenty of legal parking. I live, work and eat in the Bloomfield Ave area and in 11 years I have never had to park illegally on private property. You might have to give yourself an extra 10 minutes or so to find a spot and walk to your destination, but stop the whining about the lack of legal parking. You cannot use that as an excuse anymore since the Fullerton deck opened.

I NEVER have a trouble getting a parking space.....I just park in Bloomfield

I have been working in Montclair on Bloomfield Ave for 10 years now and until the new deck was built on South Fullerton...parking was a nightmare. They used to let all of us park in that Chase lot. At the time there was an attendant in that little hut and he knew all of our cars and would let us in. The problems didn't arise until Cheetah/Rascals came in and at night they would have valet attendants parking cars there for cheetah/rascals and they would see the left over cars there after the bank closed and would have our cars towed. For the last 2 months there hasn't been any valet attendants for the club there so I don't know if they still use it at night. I agree with the person above who said they are not consistant with it. I even know some people I work with who know some of the Chase employees and they have given my coworkers parking passes for the Chase lot. Now is that fare?

The new lot on Fullerton ALWAYS has plently of parking. I park there everyday for 8 or more hours at a clip and never have an issue. The problem is that people want to pull into that lot and fall into a space right there on the first floor. When they see that they may have to go up to the 3rd, 4th etc floor...they bitch about the parking and how far they have to walk. You would be surprised all of the excuses and complaints we hear from people of "why" they wont use the new fullerton lot. Its crazy.

We have a commercial property in Montclair with five parking spots for the tenants. Although the spaces are clearly marked private etc., I can't tell you how many times I have to ask individuals not to park in the spaces. Most people do leave but some are not so amicable. "But I'm just going to be 5 minutes" (Of course that's when the tenant drives up). "I don't care if you report me, my husband is a policeman", "I'm not bothering you" "The sign doesn't say 24 hours" Some individuals just stare and walk away. The ticket police take forever to get there so one must resort to putting those annoying stickers on the side window. You can see those cars driving around town. What I would like to do is what someone else suggested, park in there driveway at home for "just five minutes".

We have a commercial property in Montclair with five parking spots for the tenants. Although the spaces are clearly marked private etc., I can't tell you how many times I have to ask individuals not to park in the spaces. Most people do leave but some are not so amicable. "But I'm just going to be 5 minutes" (Of course that's when the tenant drives up). "I don't care if you report me, my husband is a policeman", "I'm not bothering you" "The sign doesn't say 24 hours" Some individuals just stare and walk away. The ticket police take forever to get there so one must resort to putting those annoying stickers on the side window. You can see those cars driving around town. What I would like to do is what someone else suggested, park in there driveway at home for "just five minutes".

They should put a chain across the entrance at night to make it clear that there is no parking there.

Parking is not a problem downtown. Lazy ass people who can't walk a block is the problem.

"They should put a chain across the entrance at night to make it clear that there is no parking there."

Reading (the sign) is fundamental. Enroll in a literacy program E.

The reasons stores and banks tow cars is because people abuse every inch they are given.

At Kings during the holidays we would hired security guards because people would pull in, park and go wander Upper Montclair. Sometimes they would be gone for hours - not a quick run to an ATM or store. Even when we approached people to say customer only parking - people would get verbally abusive toward us. We didn't tow - but we should have!

Places like Clifton Commons - where there are rows of "Compact Car" parking, SUV's squeeze in and don't care about other people. They should be embarrassed that the need for Applebee's took priority over manners! Or the Shop Rite parking lot - what a horror show of rude.

Even some of these posts are full of self entitlement. Get over it! Park and walk a few blocks.

"They should put a chain across the entrance at night to make it clear that there is no parking there."

Then people would just lift the chain and park. There's a sign that says "Don't park here, fuckwad", and people still park. They shouldn't do anything, they should just tow the cars that park illegally.

They should tow violators. As long as the lot is properly signed with warnings. I go to Nauna's & Quick Chek and they sometimes have an attendant walking around warning people and putting a huge yellow sticker on the window of people who park there and go across the street to the salon or the Italian deli. There are plenty of signs with pictures of tow trucks on them so I'm sure the people know what they are doing, they are just lazy because it's easier to park there. I witnessed them ticketing on three seperate occasions when I was going to Quick Chek and even saw a tow truck there once. I'm glad they do it, I want a parking spot available to me when I shop there.

How about putting one of those Severe Tire Damage things in. After the bank closes, they could activate it. Once you went in, you couldn't get out on either side. If you backed up or tried to drive out... BLAM!! Tires poppin' like corn. Then people would get the point.

Sounds like parking is a big issue in Montclair.

Mayber there's not enough of it in the right places.

The big issue here isn't the parking or lack thereof, it the inconsiderate people that think they have a right to park on PRIVATE property and then bitch when the owner tickets or towes them. How dare anyone tell them where they can and cannot park!

Does Montclair have an ordinance requiring the police to issue a ticket first for parking on private property before a vehichle is towed? Bloomfield just passed a similar law. Many other communities have one too.

They should pass it, then that will cost the violators another $80 after they pay for towing and storage. Maybe $500 worth of fines and fees will make these people pay attention to the signs that warn them not to park there