These wars being waged over shoveled out parking spaces underscore the demise of this once proud capital city. Without any sense of neighborhood and critical societal linchpins, our humanity will show tattered deterioration before complete disintegration. Trenton, already a city wrapped by segregati on and majority/minority infighting by Blacks and Hispanics, can ill afford disregard of rules, ordinances, and best practices. Nothing like a snowstorm to display the worst in people. Despite a law that forbids holding down parking spaces with cones, chairs, tables, etc., city leaders lack the courage to enforce order. Plus, city officials support activities that literally bust blocks. For instance, a National Night Out event at Cadwalader Park undermines an event created to improve relationships in rural and urban communities, not to attract hundreds to a space on the other side of town, not to lure people there for free food. Nobody lives in Cadwalader Park. The initial National Night Out in August 1984 focused on turning on porch lights and being seated outside to promote neighborhood safety. Block parties and similar events create bonds between neighbors to prevent skirmishes about shoveled out parking spaces. A Trentonian subscriber delivered this comment. “Community only works if you understand each other. Unfortunately, that requires a common language and not everyone on my block speaks English or Spanish. Hard to work together with that barrier. Hard to have people care for something when they don’t even own the place they live in – the majority of houses here in the Franklin Park area are rentals,” he offered. While diversity presents challenges, adversity allows for growth of individuals and communities. Sure, homeowners have more skin in the game regarding behaviors and attitudes about numerous issues, but many renters want clean streets, safe neighborhoods, and the attention of city officials. With half the homes listed as rentals on our 100 block of Franklin St., it’s imperative city inspectors pay attention to these properties and the landlords who rent them. The law requires an inspection each time tenancy changes. We have a restaurant/bar/nightclub that stays open until 2 a.m. (in a residential area?). The people who run this city would not accept such an invasion of their community. In terms of snow plowing and removal, our block allows public parking for 40 vehicles. During major snow events, a plan to move all vehicles could allow city employees to plow our street before we return cars to Franklin St. Would car owners buy into this plan? Let’s hope so. As of now, cool loathing exists for people who employ savesies, especially since holding spots with cones, chairs, tables is against the law. During these times, I wish we were Amish, observing the value of community. Their sense of community involves barn raising, when members unite for construction of barns in an Oprah Winfrey like — You get a barn. You get a barn. And, you get a barn. We can build a better Trenton — one block at a time. L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at [email protected]. ...read more read less