New Jersey city kicks cars to the curb to reclaim school playground

NEWARK, N.J., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- The Newark, N.J., City Council passed an ordinance to give a school playground back to the students and kick teachers' cars to the curb.

The council ended 1 1/2 years of controversy over teachers parking on the playground at Lafayette Street School with the passage of an ordinance this month offering teachers $25 city-issued permits to park on two streets near the school to keep the playground free of automotive obstacles at recess time, The (Newark) Star-Ledger reported Tuesday.

East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador, who created the ordinance, said he is working with a nearby parking garage to obtain discounts for teachers who don't want to park on the street.

"The only pushback will be from teachers who feel they are inconvenienced," Amador said.