By Keith Polasko, a concerned citizen.

CROWN HEIGHTS — On the afternoon of Monday, November 4, 2019 the New York City Police Department posted tow-away-zone signs in Crown Heights, Brooklyn announcing a parking ban for tree pruning that took effect less than 24 hours later on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Tuesday was Election Day and this surprise parking ban likely forced some residents to abandon their plans to vote. Alternate-side parking was suspended Tuesday for Election Day, so residents were caught off guard if they parked their car over the weekend or on Monday morning before the signs went up.

At best, implementing a parking ban with little notice the day before an election was an egregious gotcha-style revenue-generating scheme; at worst it was a form of voter suppression.

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