After appearing before city council 17 times in less than a year, Alex Hersch might soon be seeing a resolution to his parking situation.

A Bethlehem homeowner, Hersch works out of state, and his vehicle is registered that way. Unable to obtain a parking permit, he has spent months addressing Mayor William Reynolds and council for a resolution.

The May 17 public comments portion of council saw Hersch add new facts to his cause. He has accumulated over 23,000 miles on his vehicle driving between Rhode Island and Bethlehem. Three parking tickets have been issued, despite doing his best to change parking spots in time.

Reynolds addressed Hersch, confirming discussions with Bethlehem Parking Authority Director Steven Fernstrom about situations like his and the whole residential parking program.

Reynolds said, “We have had some conversations to find a practical way to allow for different situations, not just yours, but others. I will be honest in saying that there is not an easy way to go about doing that. Creating exceptions is not an easy way to do it but I can tell you that he is trying to do it, and I think everybody on city council wants to see something that works.”

Earlier in the evening, a resident took to public comments to voice anti-semitic views. This was not the first time he had spoken in a similar fashion. Reynolds praised Hersch for addressing those comments during his own address to council, making it clear to that resident that such language is unacceptable.

In council’s closing remarks segment, Councilwoman Rachel Leon spoke about what makes living in the Southside so special.

“There are so many stories of people who make up this awesome, awesome city that we live in. We are not all the same. We are complex people with complex backgrounds.”

Leon concluded, “I feel the more we engage with people, the more clarification I’m getting about that line of what’s good engagement. How we engage respectfully with each other versus when is holding back an act of cowardice.”