Description

The YALE HEALTH SERVICES facility (on the corner of Hillhouse and Trumbull) handles a multitude of patients on any given day, yet they have a tiny parking lot for a handful of cars. Hillhouse Ave. has very few parking spaces available at any one time and most of those have reserved bags on the meter. There are a few parking spaces adjacent to the YALE lot (on Trumbull) where injured and ill patients frequently park. Every Friday at 4:00 sharp, City Tow Trucks (laying in wait) immediatlely begin towing patient vehicles. Patients who legally park at 3:00 or so (who get delayed in the long lines awaiting medical services and medications) have their vehicles towed without further warning. Elderly and handicapped people have returned to their space, only to find their cars missing. There is no indication as to the location of the towed vehicle. People who are ill, and in some cases can hardly walk, find themselves without transportation or the $80 to regain their vehicle. There have not been any signs posted in public view (to advise patients) and there is no grace period beyond the posted 4:00. Patients who have waited an hour or more for medical attention are forced to choose between aborting their treatment or losing their car. There is no visible reason for this weekly 4:00 ritual but the impact on these patients far outweighs any benefit to the City. The tow trucks swarm in like "shooting fish in a barrel". The western end of Trumbull Street has not been busy on Fridays due to the bridge cinstruction in the area. It appears to be a convenient means of generating revenue at the cost of those who can least afford the money or the inconvenience. Why hasn't the Mayor or Yale Health Services or the Traffic Control Dept. worked together for a solution other than simply waiting for the new Health Services faclity to be completed some day. There have been a lot of tears shed at that location by those who have enough pain in their lives.