Last Sunday. The parking situation before the 11 O'clock mass was really chaotic, to say the least. The tall cop on duty at our church was way damn rude.
He had his car parked blocking the east side parking lot. At the same time he was directing traffic elsewhere. People who wanted to get out couldn't get out and those who wanted to get in and park, couldn't.
Who does he think he is? Bishop Angadiyath? Pope Benedict? Or the king of Hellwood?
What kind of joke is this?
The cop was so rude, that in rudeness he would beat our vicar handsomely.
One Powathil guy almost had a fight with the tall cop. Another idiot tried to drive around the cop car over the flower bed to get to a parking space.
Situation being this, it is heartening to hear statements from the authorities concerning steps being taken to ease this problem. The vicar said it a couple of weeks ago: Steps are being taken to convert some of the surrounding church properties to parking lots.
But this is easier said than done.
This is what experts tells us: yes, the church owns a couple of houses near the church. Actually there already is an open and empty plot behind the church now. But these all are zoned "residential". Which means these are revenue generating properties. Re-zoning any property is a hard and complicated process. Especially re-zoning one that generates revenues to non-revenue generating. Even if the village is amenable to the proposal an open and full Public Hearing has to be held. Any surrounding resident and/or property owner can object to having a parking lot next to their property.
And our gut feeling is, that is exactly what is going to happen.
Our church authorities can brag all they want about the architectural marvel they created in Bellwood. But we know what it really is: an ugly monstrosity in Hellwood. Face it. Our neighbors does not really care for us. The proof is in the dozens of complaints the village gets every Sunday and the parking tickets we get in turn.
Think about all the useless properties our religious authorities acquired. Bishop's number one folly was the purchase of the skeletal building at 5544 St. Charles Road. It is good for nothing, and the diocese is paying real estate tax through the nose on it. Some time ago parish authorities were in a buying frenzy acquiring any and all surrounding houses. And we bought a few. Then what happened? They all sit there empty. Like haunted houses.
(Talking about haunted houses a superb idea popped into our head. May be the vicar's beloved youth can raise a few bucks this Halloween conducting a tour of these haunted houses. Don't be mad, youth, just a well-meaning suggestion. Beats car wash.)
Yet they failed to buy the one most important property they should have. The bicycle junkyard in front of the church. The bicycle junkyard still sits there as a symbol of the simple ineptitude of our leaders. It laughs at us every Sunday baring its ugly teeth.
But hoping against hope we wish the authorities succeed in solving this grave problem. It cannot continue indefinitely without causing serious rupture in our community.
- By the way, this reporter had the good luck to participate in the evening mass last Sunday. Thank God, there was no sound system. That is, I was told, because the previous Sunday, Fr. Antony was the celebrant, and no sound guy on duty, and the sound system wouldn't stop howling like crazy. Fr. Antony was so damn helpless. He learned his lesson so good, he didn't want to take a chance this Sunday! I have to admit, with out the annoying sound system, the Mass was pretty peaceful! The vicar should try it on a regular Sunday Mass.


