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Paid Parking and the election
Commissioner of Accounts John Franck, who won his current term in office after an uncontested election in 2007, put it stark terms at tonight's workshop meeting on the proposals for the High Rock parking lot:
"I think people are more concerned about getting re-elected than making a decision," he said.
It's true, putting tax payers on the hook for some kind of parking fee, AND pissing off every business owner in downtown and the chamber, and the Special Assessment District in an election year is a dubious move to be sure.
But, at the same time, several commissioners expressed the necessity of exploring paid parking, and others also recognized that it is not the role of the council to simply cow to the whims of the public, but to make difficult decisions.
Personally, as someone who has a guaranteed downtown parking spot thanks to my job, I'm not too concerned about paid parking, but I know that there are lots of people who are much more concerned about it than I am. This is your time to weigh in. How bad would paid parking be for downtown? Conversely, if you see the benefit to paid parking, why is it such a good thing?
Also, while the 0% tax increase was a great re-election slogan for this council, will paid parking overshadow that gain, come November?
"I think people are more concerned about getting re-elected than making a decision," he said.
It's true, putting tax payers on the hook for some kind of parking fee, AND pissing off every business owner in downtown and the chamber, and the Special Assessment District in an election year is a dubious move to be sure.
But, at the same time, several commissioners expressed the necessity of exploring paid parking, and others also recognized that it is not the role of the council to simply cow to the whims of the public, but to make difficult decisions.
Personally, as someone who has a guaranteed downtown parking spot thanks to my job, I'm not too concerned about paid parking, but I know that there are lots of people who are much more concerned about it than I am. This is your time to weigh in. How bad would paid parking be for downtown? Conversely, if you see the benefit to paid parking, why is it such a good thing?
Also, while the 0% tax increase was a great re-election slogan for this council, will paid parking overshadow that gain, come November?
posted by The Saratogian City Desk at
9:32 PM
7 Comments:
As a property taxpayer, and not in the catagory of business owner in downtown and the chamber, and the Special Assessment District, paid parking is the best idea to come along in years. You see, property taxpayers have bad consequenses for not paying their tax bill. But with paid parking we would get to choose if we want to pay for parking to shop downtown or not.
Actually the business owner in downtown could turn paid parking in to an advantage if they offered a creative incentive with a purchase to cover the customers cost of parking.
I think the paid parking currently in use behind the Gap and Banana Republic has the right idea. If you are patronizing local stores, your parking is validated and free. If you are coming to that lot everyday, or leaving your car all day, you need to pay. I would hate to see Saratoga become the city of parking meters and tickets, but it is not ridiculous to think that sometimes you have to pay to park somewhere.
There is plenty of parking in downtown Saratoga IF you are willing to walk a block or two. I think paid parking along Broadway itself is a good idea. If you want the convenience of parking in front, then pay for it.
If the problem is that people are not ABLE to walk a block or two, that's different. Downtown shop owners could validate or otherwise reimburse parking for handicapped shoppers as a good faith gesture.
Paid parking is not going to drive downtown shoppers away from Broadway. Again, if you want the convenience of NOT walking, then be willing to pay for it.
Franck sure knows about being more interested in getting re-elected that good public policy. That's why he will have a lot of opposition on the Democratic Committee.
He never raised his voisce on behalf of the DPW workers who will be out of work. His vote on the Indoor Rec. Facility SEQR was a act of political pandering and will probably lead to a law suite.
The way he beat up on Val Keehn and the Public Safety Facility has not been forgotten by the Police, the members of that committee and others.
Let's have paid parking (not meters but those deals where you get a time-stamped ticket to put on your windshield), but let's skip the Public Safety Palace. There's no reason to tie the two together, and I have yet to see a well thought-out justification for the Palace. Get some facts instead of threats and anecdotes. Either way, Kim better be gone next election. He's a waste.
Paid Parking will work in Saratoga. People will come whether they are paying to park or not. The amount of revenue we will generate takes care of fear of tax increase after tax increase. The bigger problem downtown for businesses is the high cost of rent. Maybe some deal can be worked out between the two.
As usual -- and like his DFC co-conspirators -- GH doesn't have a clue.
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