Democracy In Albany - New York Politics ||

More parking profiteering

By devtob 53, Section Diaries
Posted on Sat Apr 26, 2008 at 11:32:12 AM EST

In his ongoing effort to squeeze every last dollar out of anyone who wants to go downtown, at any time, Jennings has installed a parking ticket machine for the under-787 lot just east of the Pump House.

And, evidently, parking is also no longer free for a short while at the nine small lots off the already-in-tight-straits lower Central Avenue retail district (h/t DIA).

Also, in his ongoing effort to deceive everyone, Jennings initiated this change with no apparent notice to the media.

I could find no TU story online, and the city's website has no mention of the change.

He did get a phone call Friday from someone with a business on Central Avenue who said the new policy will kill his business, but Jennings typically blew him off.

More below.

I saw the machine by the Pump House on the way to a Restaurant Week meal Thursday, and briefly checked it out.

Unlike civilized cities that use such machines, and space them out every block or so, there is one big machine near the Pump House.

So, once you figure out that the free lot is no longer free and pay your money, you have to walk anywhere from 50 feet to several hundred feet to put the ticket on your dashboard.

Even worse, these spaces are now unfree on nights and weekends.

Jennings just does not get it; given the high cost of everything these days -- gas, taxes, health care, clueless cronies in city government, pints of beer and fancy martinis in the big bar district, etc. -- many people will react to his parking profiteering by avoiding downtown Albany altogether.

Soon, the only free spaces in and around downtown will be on streets made more dangerous by Jennings/Tuffey incompetence.

And the city will spiral down the drain even faster.

< Joshua Szostak the aftermath.... | WHAT? There was more to the story? >

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More parking profiteering | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 hidden)

Pocket Change (none / 0) (#1)
by alfrednewman on Sat Apr 26, 2008 at 07:27:17 PM EST

Devtob:

Let me get this straight as I haven't seen the parking ticket machine you are referring to:

The City of Albany now expects people who use a city owned and maintained parking lot to pay to park instead of making all the tax payers in the City of Albany pay for something that the over whelming majority of us will never see- let alone use.

Good! Damn well about time. Why should the city provide free parking when all the private lots through out the city have to pay property taxes? Why should the city directly compete with private lot owners? That certainly seems unfair, doesn't it? I am willing to bet that most of the people who use that lot don't even live in the city.

Same goes for the lots on lower Central. I used to live right next to one of these things and they were always full. Full during the day with office workers who commuted down from Clifton Park or with tenants who live next to them. Some of these cars never moved for months at a time.

If the lots are supposed to be used by shoppers then the business owner should be very happy that they are metered. It will guarantee that customers will be able to park. Before they metered the streets the only way to shop at one of these stores was to double park.

And what makes you think that the media would bother covering the installation of parking meters? We all know that most of the time they cant even be bothered to report on crime.

Jennings is a Democrat, by the way. You know, a member of the Democratic Party that is the Party of the people.
"What? Me worry? " "whatmeworry.alfred@gmail.com"

My point is that (none / 0) (#2)
by devtob 53 on Sat Apr 26, 2008 at 07:47:43 PM EST

charging for parking on nights and weekends in this convenient, relatively safe lot will inhibit some people from spending money in downtown on nights and weekends.

Who knows how many, but there will be some who say the heck with this, I'll go to my local where I can park for free.

The most successful downtown around here -- Saratoga Springs -- features free parking, and in the six weeks of racing, accommodates many more people and cars than Albany on its best night.

But the Jennings gang is too dependent on parking meter and ticket revenues, and too corruptly beholden to private lot owners and tow truck companies to make night and weekend free downtown parking widely available.

Re: Jennings is a Democrat. Technically so, I guess, even though his incompetence and fiscal imprudence has been positively Bush-like lately.

And, really, any guy who endorsed Pataki and Sweeney is no true Democrat.
The Democrats are the party of the people.
[ Parent ]

: Let go of the fantasy (none / 0) (#4)
by AlfredMoisiu on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 09:36:33 AM EST

Where, other than bars or restaurants, am I going to spend money downtown or on Central Avenue? Other than buying weed, halal meats or cheap underwear at Lodges, I can't think of anything.
And as far as I know, meter parking isn't enforced after 6PM. I'm just not seeing how charging for access to a fenced, lit, maintained lot is an injustice.
Comparing Albany to Saratoga isn't really productive, particularly if you're talking about track season. There's a whole economy up there centered around parking rentals, house rentals and tourist hotels.

[ Parent ]

Parking (none / 0) (#3)
by alfrednewman on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 07:22:07 AM EST

Devtob:

Are you really comparing Albany's downtown to Saratoga Springs? Good Lord.

I think that when you look at the number of patrons that Albany's bar district can accommodate vs Saratoga's downtown you will probably find that the Big House alone can accommodate more people then all the bars on Saratoga's Broadway combined.

And I hate to tell you but parking in downtown Saratoga sucks seven days a week- 52 weeks a year. When I worked off exit 10 I would go up to Saratoga to buy art supplies. I often had to park three or four blocks away from the place on Broadway. During track season the only way that the city is able to accommodate cars is to open up those giant fields and make you walk several thousand feet back to the gates. And are you forgetting lawn parking? How bad would traffic be if there weren't people parking on lawns?

And....

If being forced to pay a dollar or two is going to influence someone's partying plans then I am going to point out that those are probably not the type of people that we really should want in the first place. Do we really want those who have to choose between buying another Rolling Rock Split and paying to park a car?
If making their patrons pay for parking is going to effect bar business then let the bars pay for their parking. If they think their patrons are getting ripped off then they can do a promo- bring in last weeks parking stub and get a free Genny. Can even call it "A Gyp for a Genny." It rymes.
I have dealt with a couple of the lot owners down there. What a bunch of thieving bastards. No doubt. But those thieving bastards are business owners who have to pay for lot maintenance, snow plowing, insurance and taxes.

These lots are assessed at a far higher rate then a simple vacant lot the owners collect and pay sales tax.

Should the city be in a position where it is providing for free the same services that business need to charge for so that they can pay their taxes? Should the city be in a position where it is providing for free the same services that are generating sales tax revenue?

And finally, just where would bar hoppers go if they don't like to pay for parking? They going to spend ten bucks for gas and drive the DWI Gauntlet between Albany and Saratoga to avoid paying five bucks here? I don't think so.

James McGreevey another example of how the Democrats are the Party of the People.
"What? Me worry? " "whatmeworry.alfred@gmail.com"

More parking profiteering | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 hidden)

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