On May 23, the City launched an improved parking enforcement program in the Park and Webster Street areas to increase compliance with parking rules. As a result, we’ll see an increase in available parking, safer crosswalks and bike lanes, fewer drivers circling for parking and double-parking, less traffic, and pollution is kept out of the Bay.

What’s changed? Most parking enforcement activities have moved from Police to Public Works, and you’ll start to see an increase in the presence of parking technicians driving vehicles identified with our new parking logo. They’ll be issuing tickets (using our current system) when people park illegally, including double-parking, parking in a blue zone without a placard, parking on sidewalks, parking in red zones (with more daylighting/improved visibility coming soon), overstaying posted time limits, and for expired meters. Last week was National Public Works Week, so as this new program launches, we have more people to thank in our Public Works department who keep the city running smoothly.

What hasn’t changed? The Alameda Police Department (APD) will continue to issue tickets for moving violations and expired registrations, and handle vehicle towing in the public right-of-way, including the abandoned vehicle program. So far this year, APD has focused their enforcement and education efforts on impaired driving, unsafe turning, stop sign violations and cell phone use, and unsafe speeds. Thank you APD!

What will continue to change in the coming months? We have a series of improvements in the pipeline, including signage, new barricades, and updated striping that will increase on-street parking, short-term parking for pick-ups and drop-offs, commercial loading zones, and accessible parking for people with disabilities.

I asked folks online what they think about this new program, and I heard that it’s a good start and is much needed. There were concerns about people double-parking, the lack of parking for people with disabilities, people blocking bike lanes with their vehicles, and people parking in places that are not legal, like sidewalks and in the bollarded-off areas on Park and Webster. People also had a lot of questions that we’ve tried to answer in our FAQ at www.alamedaparking.org.

Some people asked where the best place to park is. Around Park Street, the Civic Center garage (Oak between Santa Clara and Central) is your best choice, where parking is plentiful and half the price of area meters and lots. The garage has been cleaned recently, the elevator is fixed, there are increased safety patrols and a new security camera system, and monthly parking passes are available. Around Webster, the West End parking lot (east of Webster between Santa Clara and Haight) is another good choice.

Alameda County HITT
Motorcycle and patrol officers from Alameda County’s High Intensity Traffic Team (HITT) rolled into Alameda yesterday to conduct directed traffic enforcement throughout Alameda’s 700-plus streets on May 26. The directed enforcement is a part of the Alameda Police Department’s ongoing efforts to increase the safety of motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists within our community.

Alongside our staff, officers from the Hayward, San Leandro, and Newark police departments headed out to various locations throughout town. Officers looked for vehicular and bicycle violations in areas of community concern. In all, 130 citations were issued by 11 officers for stop sign and traffic light violations, unsafe speeds, cellphones violations, bicycle violations, unlicensed and suspended drivers, and failure to yield to pedestrians.
One vehicle code violation topped the list with 32 issued citations.

Make your parade plans!
In 2020 and 2021, COVID-19 paused the 44th annual 4th of July Parade. This year, we are very excited that the parade is marching on! Here are a few things you need to know:
• The parade is on the 4th of July, Monday, July 4, at 10 am
• Just before the parade is the Race for Midway Shelter, a 5k along the parade route, at 9 am
• The parade starts on Park Street just past Lincoln, heads west toward South Shore Center, turns right on Otis, right on Grand, left on Encinal to Central, and right up Webster, where it ends just before Lincoln
• There are no bad seats, but some of the more popular places to view the parade are along Park, Grand, and Webster. Or you can be IN the parade!

Join other floats, community groups, bands, dancers, equestrians, and people with antique cars! Read more at www.alamedaca.gov/parade.

And stay safe and healthy.
While we eagerly await the July 4th Parade, we also are experiencing a swell in COVID cases. The local level of community spread increased from low to medium recently per the CDC. As of Monday, May 23, the City of Alameda recorded 576 lab-reported cases so far this month.

This January, Alameda recorded 3,498 COVID cases during the Omicron surge, and an additional 994 in December. Our second-highest wave was the year before, with 712 cases in January 2021, and an additional 641 in December. The current wave is the third highest we have seen, greater than the Delta surge.

What’s different is that we know how to better protect ourselves, our loved ones, and community members. Get vaccinated and boosted. People 50+ or 12+ and immunocompromised are now eligible for a second booster, and children ages 5-11 are eligible for their first booster. Get tested if you have symptoms or are exposed and stay home if you’re sick. Wear a mask in indoor public spaces. And if you test positive, talk with your healthcare provider right away to see if you are eligible for treatments.

The other thing that is different today is that we continue to see low levels of hospitalization and death. This is because of our high vaccination and booster rates, COVID medications, and greater immunity from past infections. So please keep doing what you’ve been doing to stay safe, and we will get past this 5th wave of the virus!