Why are Nashville, Tennessee residents seeing more abandoned cars in their neighborhoods?
NASHVILLE, Tennessee. (WKRN) — Despite requests to remove them, abandoned vehicles are taking over parking spaces, collecting trash and causing headaches on roads across the city, according to Nashville residents.
City Councilman Sean Parker said he began hearing weekly questions from voters in recent months as to why their requests to evacuate those vehicles are being ignored.
“We’re not talking about someone who parked overnight, who has expired tags; we’re talking about cars that have been there for a month, 6 months, and in some cases a couple of years,” Parker said.
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He explained that this had not always been the case, but when the city’s contract with the company to export these cars ended, they could not find another group to take over.
“This is what people notice in the community,” he said.
A spokesman for the mayor’s office said in a statement that they are aware of the issue.
“Metro currently has the ability to remove vehicles when necessary, especially in emergencies. There were no bidders in recent non-emergency procurement, particularly for abandoned vehicles in non-emergency situations, and we are currently reviewing this with the industry to understand why, as well as opportunities to make the process more efficient and timely for everyone involved.” T.J. Daklo, director of public relations for Metro, wrote.
Outside of Meigs Academic Magnet High School, an abandoned car in the pick-up and drop-off area became something of a year-end joke.
“Someone made a sign that said, ‘Goodbye Meigs and goodbye to cars that haven’t moved in four years,'” Parker said.
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The blue-red Saturn near the school has broken windows and broken glass on the passenger seat. It also lacks a license plate and is stripped of everything of any potential value.
Residents who live close to the school say it has been in existence for over a year.
A few blocks from the school, Nashville resident Jason Stalcap parked two abandoned cars in front of his house. He said that despite requests to remove them and requests to Hub Nashville, the machines are still there.
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“He’s blocking our parking lot. Some of them are broken, so parked in front of your house, they do not look very good, said Stalkap.
He added that he sometimes found people sleeping in cars.
Stalcap said the inconvenience is that he believes his tax dollars should be directed towards solving the problem, even if it’s not an emergency.
