Shoppers stroll through the Santo Tomas Swap Meet on Saturday. (CHELCEY ADAMI PHOTO) |
CALEXICO — Christina Uriarte moved to a home right across the street from the Santo Tomas swap meet a year ago. She is moving out soon though and said the heavy traffic in the neighborhood contributed to her decision.
“It’s always a concern on the weekends. I actually have to park my car outside (on the street) to make sure I don’t get blocked in,” she said. “It was highly unpleasant to see all that traffic in front of my home. Getting in and out on the weekends was a nightmare.”
Uriarte said the heavy traffic lasts from early morning until about 1:30 p.m. on the weekends. She said she doesn’t have a problem with the swap meet itself, she just wished it provided its own parking.
“It is a hassle. Other than that, it’s also a safety hazard because you have too many people in the street and it’s too small,” she added.
While there is some parking available at the swap meet, the parking lot usually quickly fills and spreads throughout the nearby residential streets.
Other neighbors agreed that the traffic is a nuisance and makes having company over during the weekend difficult due to a lack of parking. Some said families continuously watch for when a space frees up in order to save it for guests.
Calexico Police Department Police Advisory Commission member Vincent J. Cuevas also believes the swap meet encroaches on nearby railroad land and creates traffic issues in the neighborhood.
He is circulating a petition to change the traffic on V.V. Williams Street that runs alongside the swap meet and has also appeared at several City Council meetings to discuss his concerns.
“We, the residents of the city of Calexico find the amount of traffic intolerable on V.V. Williams St. because of the Santo Tomas Swap Meet’s lack of parking facilities and the lack of traffic control around the swap meet. It is unsafe, and the street is in disrepair,” the petition states.
It will be submitted to the city of Calexico during the City Council meeting Tuesday.
City Engineer Nick Servin said that the swap meet does have an agreement with the railroad, but it’s unclear what that agreement says. The city is seeking records to see what the language exactly is.
Servin said there are safety violations within the swap meet that the city is gathering information on before approaching swap meet owners for compliance.
Examples of violations include overburdened electric plugs, fire hazards like roof covering made out of flammable material, propane tanks and blocked fire lanes.
Those approached about violations will be given a specific time to comply.
Calls to Santo Tomas’ office were unreturned.
Staff Writer Chelcey Adami can be reached at 760-337-3452 or cadami@ivpressonline.com.
“It’s always a concern on the weekends. I actually have to park my car outside (on the street) to make sure I don’t get blocked in,” she said. “It was highly unpleasant to see all that traffic in front of my home. Getting in and out on the weekends was a nightmare.”
Uriarte said the heavy traffic lasts from early morning until about 1:30 p.m. on the weekends. She said she doesn’t have a problem with the swap meet itself, she just wished it provided its own parking.
“It is a hassle. Other than that, it’s also a safety hazard because you have too many people in the street and it’s too small,” she added.
While there is some parking available at the swap meet, the parking lot usually quickly fills and spreads throughout the nearby residential streets.
Other neighbors agreed that the traffic is a nuisance and makes having company over during the weekend difficult due to a lack of parking. Some said families continuously watch for when a space frees up in order to save it for guests.
Calexico Police Department Police Advisory Commission member Vincent J. Cuevas also believes the swap meet encroaches on nearby railroad land and creates traffic issues in the neighborhood.
He is circulating a petition to change the traffic on V.V. Williams Street that runs alongside the swap meet and has also appeared at several City Council meetings to discuss his concerns.
“We, the residents of the city of Calexico find the amount of traffic intolerable on V.V. Williams St. because of the Santo Tomas Swap Meet’s lack of parking facilities and the lack of traffic control around the swap meet. It is unsafe, and the street is in disrepair,” the petition states.
It will be submitted to the city of Calexico during the City Council meeting Tuesday.
City Engineer Nick Servin said that the swap meet does have an agreement with the railroad, but it’s unclear what that agreement says. The city is seeking records to see what the language exactly is.
Servin said there are safety violations within the swap meet that the city is gathering information on before approaching swap meet owners for compliance.
Examples of violations include overburdened electric plugs, fire hazards like roof covering made out of flammable material, propane tanks and blocked fire lanes.
Those approached about violations will be given a specific time to comply.
Calls to Santo Tomas’ office were unreturned.
Staff Writer Chelcey Adami can be reached at 760-337-3452 or cadami@ivpressonline.com.
