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PrintThat's Just Wrong: School Traffic
Reported by:
Producer:
Diana Reed
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Call it a crash course on compromising. Neighbors in one community are upset parents block their driveways waiting to drop off and pick up their kids from school. The neighbors say they've asked for help, but their complaints have been dismissed. Now, they say Thats Just Wrong.
WSVN--"Palmetto is backed up due to an accident."
Traffic is an issue most of us in south Florida deal with on a daily basis.
Sonia Villar: "We can hardly get out."
But imagine facing a traffic jam just backing out of your driveway.
Sonia Villar: "Between 8:15 and 8:35 you cannot leave your house."
That's what Sonia Villar deals with every weekday .. thanks to a nearby school.
Sonia Villar: "Blocking all the right lane and then going all the way down. And, then between my house and her house right there blocking the street."
Every morning and afternoon, parents crowd Sonia's street .. parking bumper to bumper trying to beat the traffic around Jane Roberts school.
Neighbors have become so frustrated, they've put cones across their driveways ...
Sonia Villar: "This gentlemen as you can see has rocks that he took so that people won't park there."
There are even sign's warning no school parking.
But the rocks and the signs are no deterrent for this mom ... Or this father who parked there anyway.
Sonia Villar: "We have had people drive through our yard. We have seen the tire tracks."
The other day, it got so bad, a transport van knocked down Sophia's mail box.
Sonia Villar: "I hear boom. And all of a sudden, I was like great my mailbox. The mailbox was down."
Sonia and her neighbors have complained to everyone.
Sonia Villar: "We have called the school board. We have gone to the school. We have gone to the homeowners association. As you can see the security company .. everything."
They believe although the parents are flunking, nothing's been done.
No repercussion. No lessons learned.
And now, they say that's just wrong.
Sonia Villar: "The parents need to be told they can't just come over and park in our yards and take over our houses."
Coincidentally, the day Seven News showed up .. the principal called for added security ..
Sonia Villar: "What's going on, the principal called us and said send me five security people right away and start directing traffic."
And the extra enforcement did make a difference.
When we talked with Miami-Dade public schools they told us .. they are listening to Sonia and her neighbors.
Sonia Villar
: "The principal sent home letters with parents telling them not to park there .. and she is scheduled to speak at the upcoming homeowners association meeting."Sonia couldn't ask for anything more.
She knows the parents' patience will be tested.
But since we got involved, she gives the school board an A+ for taking action.
Craig Stevens: "If you have a story affecting you or your community and you think we can help, give us a call at 305-598-help or 954-796-help.
You can also send us an e-mail at thatsjustwrong@wsvn.Com. In the newsplex, Craig Stevens, Seven News.
PLEASE SEND STORY IDEAS TO:
thatsjustwrong@wsvn.com
DADE: 305-598-HELP
BROWARD: 954-796-HELP