I have read the report last week - with much disappointment - that the Roslyn Board of Trustees has rescinded parking regulations within Roslyn Pines for part of July. This, for the pleasure and convenience of the Shibley Camp's visitor-moms who find it hard to find a parking space during the camp's demonstration days.

It is quite a sight to see these trim young moms behind the wheels of their 1.5 ton SUVs in determined pursuit of a parking spot as if they were competing at Daytona Beach. The young children who live in the Pines are, apparently, irrelevant.

The subject of over-parking in the streets of Roslyn Pines was first presented to the Roslyn Board in July of 1996. Measurements of the road, together with photographs of the streets jammed with cars were given to the board as evidence that fire trucks and other emergency vehicles simply could not get through on many of the streets. Indeed, one of the camp's own buses got stuck on one of the curves; it took between 20 minutes and a half hour for the bus to back itself out.

What if that bus were a fire truck?

The 1996 board responded by enacting the current parking restrictions, greatly reducing the risk that someone would get hurt. Since then things have gotten worse. 1996 automobiles have been replaced with the giant SUVs that are substantially wider, leaving an even narrower passage for other vehicles to try to navigate.

Normally, Roslyn Village's Board of Trustees does a wonderful job of thoughtful, careful evaluation before ruling on an issue. But they sure blew this one! One hopes that there is time for them to reconsider their ruling for unrestricted parking before it takes effect on July 16.

Alan Rosenberg