The controversy began when Randy Hamilton posted in the East Hill Neighborhood Association Facebook Group, warning residents about parking tickets for vehicles left on streets longer than 24 hours. Hamilton, who has parked in front of his house for 14 years without incident, received two $25 citations while out of town for “STORAGE OF VEHICLE ON CITY STREET OVER 24 HOURS.”
Mayor Reeves responded, calling Hamilton’s post “a quality gaslight” and challenging the resident’s account. “I can personally guarantee you that you didn’t get a ticket, parked in the correct direction, not blocking a driveway, and it was because of 24 hours,” the mayor wrote, even offering to pay the ticket personally if proven wrong.
The mayor’s tone immediately drew criticism from other residents. Seth Martin questioned whether the response was professional, while Judy Gerwe suggested the matter should have been handled privately rather than on social media.
Reeves doubled down, insisting the city doesn’t patrol neighborhoods for parking violations. “If you get a ticket in East Hill residential roads, it’s a guarantee a neighbor called and complained about a blocked driveway, turned the wrong way, etc.”
However, Hamilton maintained his story, saying the officer specifically told him “nobody complained that he is there patrolling it,” directly contradicting the mayor’s claims about complaint-driven enforcement.
The exchange continued when Reeves requested Hamilton email the parking tickets, again suggesting the resident was spreading “misinformation.” Hamilton agreed to provide proof, mentioning that the officer was “chalking every vehicle in the neighborhood to make sure they’re not parked there for 24 hours.”
The incident highlights tensions between residents and city leadership over parking enforcement practices, transparency in municipal operations, and appropriate communication channels for addressing citizen concerns in the digital age.
This comes after a tumultuous town hall meeting on the city’s west side at the Fricker Center, criticism over the police chief’s resignation and the botched rollout of the city’s revamped curbside recycling program.