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Albany Parking Permits Review Website

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I live in the Mansion Neighborhood and strongly support the implementation of a parking permit system. The failure of our legislative leaders to recognize that residents of the City of Albany should have the right to self determination on this issue is deplorable. If other communities in New York State can have the right to implement such parking restrictions, why are Albany residents being discriminated against?

Colin McKnight
April 24, 2002

Mr. Bill Pettit
bpettit@standardweb.com

Dear Mr. Pettit:

Thank you for you recent e-mail concerning pending legislation that would
authorize the city of Albany to create a residential parking permit system
(A.6144/S. 3176).

Most people will agree that there simply is not enough room to park within
certain sections of the city of Albany. I understand that this limited
parking availability has created a major problem for those who make their
homes within these city neighborhoods. Like many older urban areas, Albany
homes were not built with the automobile in mind, hence, no driveways or
garages. Consequently, city residents constantly struggle with the daily
influx of visitors and employees for the ability to park close to their
homes. Introduced by area representatives, this parking system is a good
way to address these concerns and ease congestion which seems to be in line
with what other similarly-situated cities have done.

As you may know, this bill passed the Assembly last year, yet failed to
advance in the Senate. Presently, it awaits review in the Transportation
Committee, of which I am a member. You can be assured of my support to
advance this out of committee as well as my vote again when, and if, it
comes before the full Assembly.

Again, thank you for writing. Please do not hesitate to contact me again
regarding this or any other matter.

Sincerely,

Joseph E. Robach
Member of Assembly

I strongly support a parking permit system for Albany residents. I live on Washington Park, and from what I understand, the reason I must move my car every 90 minutes is to protect me from State workers taking the spaces. I do not find this to be an acceptable solution. I would also like to see parking
permits benefit residents when there are events held in Albany, usually in Washington park. We are the people who live in Albany, day in and day out,
and it is absurd that we are the ones being inconvenienced by people who work or are only visitors to this lovely city.

Valerie Salvestrini
Permit parking is an accepted tool for managing traffic and preserving urban neighborhoods, used throughout North America. I have personally seen it implemented successfully in cities and towns from Portland, Oregon to Montreal to Washington, DC, and I know it is used successfully in ten municipalities in New York and every State capital in the Northeast. There is simply nothing about Albany - except the powerful special-interest public employee unions and the spineless politicians who bend to their will -- that warrants denying it the power to implement a parking permit system as well.
Those who use our streets as commuter parking lots call permit parking discriminatory, and it is -- it discriminates against those who use public city streets for an improper purpose, and it discriminates in favor of not just residents, but anyone who wants to come in to the city for business or pleasure for a limited time.
Nor would permit parking impose serious hardship on commuters. Downtown Albany is well-served by public transit and has ample park and ride lots in most suburban areas. People can carpool and split the cost of gas and of parking in a commercial lot. And anyone who really can't do without driving into the city alone every day will finally have to pay a little more of the cost to everyone else of that lifestyle choice.
Permit parking could benefit the very people who complain about it. Once given the incentive to try it, they might like the savings they realize from carpooling or riding the bus, even just a few times a week, and everyone will notice a dramatic decrease in rush-hour traffic congestion and pollution.
And less of my tax money will have to be spent on highway expansion for them.
Stuart Cohen

I support a residential parking permit system in Albany.
Joel Margolis
Albany, NY
I wish to go on record as a very strong supporter of a Parking Permit system for the City of Albany, especially for the Downtown neighborhoods.

John A. Frederick

As a homeowner in the Center Square area, I strongly SUPPORT the passage of a Permit Parking System in downtown Albany!! Thank you.

Kyle Ruch

I live in the Mansion Neighborhood. I support parking permit legislation and I believe that the Mansion Neighborhood Association supports it as well!

Ron Young

I was going to buy a car this year, and then wondered why I should bother - I would have to pay $1.00 an hour to park it (if I found a parking space)!! Why should the people who don't even live in Albany get to park in front of my house when I can't? MY $$ stays in Albany - I'll bet their $$ doesn't. I speak for the other tenants in my bldg. (who don't own computers) when I ask why union members who live in Slingerlands, Clifton Park, etc., get preferential treatment over the residents of downtown Albany??

Johanna Fitz

We definitely support permit parking in the City of Albany. Frustrations and difficulties with parking on the street outside our residence on Willett Street bordering Washington Park caused many former residents to move elsewhere. We hope not to have to do the same.

Carole and Peter Finger

Times Union Editorial 6/14/01

I am in support of the parking permit system for Center Square and Washington Park Neighborhoods. As a previous resident of Cambridge, Mass, my experience with a residential permit system was very satisfactory. Every resident applied for a sticker for a nominal price ($10) and with that sticker received 2 parking passes for visitors, good for only 24 hours at a time and only for the immediate neighborhood of your house. Cars without stickers were limited to 1 -2 hours of parking, before ticketing.

Sandie Baptie

Bill Pettit

7/2/01

I read yesterday, with interest in the local papers, a story about residents of Colonie who live near the High School. It seems that they were upset at the High School Students who came to school and parked in front of their houses.

After complaining to the Town the Town of Colonie posted the streets around the High School with "No Parking" signs.

This of course brought to mind a similar situation in Bethlehem last year. There the residents around the High School complained and the town built an off site lot and posted "No Parking" on their streets.

Does ANYONE realize that these residents of Delmar and Colonie, who are complaining about parking issues in front of their houses, ARE the same people who want to PARK IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSES? And want to deny us the rights and free access to our property, just like the students had been denying them free access to their properties.

Doesn't this seem UNFAIR, and a DOUBLE STANDARD?

Should we post the streets in front of out houses "NO PARKING"?

We want a fair deal by the residents of the suburban towns and by the Assembly and Senate of NEW YORK STATE.

I live in the Mansion Neighborhood and strongly support the implementation of a parking permit system. The failure of our legislative leaders to recognize that residents of the City of Albany should have the right to self determination on this issue is deplorable. If other communities in New York State can have the right to implement such parking restrictions, why are Albany residents being discriminated against? Colin McKnight	April 24, 2002 Mr. Bill Pettit bpettit@standardweb.com Dear Mr. Pettit: Thank you for you recent e-mail concerning pending legislation that would authorize the city of Albany to create a residential parking permit system (A.6144/S. 3176). Most people will agree that there simply is not enough room to park within certain sections of the city of Albany. I understand that this limited parking availability has created a major problem for those who make their homes within these city neighborhoods. Like many older urban areas, Albany homes were not built with the automobile in mind, hence, no driveways or garages. Consequently, city residents constantly struggle with the daily influx of visitors and employees for the ability to park close to their homes. Introduced by area representatives, this parking system is a good way to address these concerns and ease congestion which seems to be in line with what other similarly-situated cities have done. As you may know, this bill passed the Assembly last year, yet failed to advance in the Senate. Presently, it awaits review in the Transportation Committee, of which I am a member. You can be assured of my support to advance this out of committee as well as my vote again when, and if, it comes before the full Assembly. Again, thank you for writing. Please do not hesitate to contact me again regarding this or any other matter. Sincerely, Joseph E. Robach Member of Assembly
I strongly support a parking permit system for Albany residents. I live on Washington Park, and from what I understand, the reason I must move my car every 90 minutes is to protect me from State workers taking the spaces. I do not find this to be an acceptable solution. I would also like to see parking permits benefit residents when there are events held in Albany, usually in Washington park. We are the people who live in Albany, day in and day out, and it is absurd that we are the ones being inconvenienced by people who work or are only visitors to this lovely city. Valerie Salvestrini	Permit parking is an accepted tool for managing traffic and preserving urban neighborhoods, used throughout North America. I have personally seen it implemented successfully in cities and towns from Portland, Oregon to Montreal to Washington, DC, and I know it is used successfully in ten municipalities in New York and every State capital in the Northeast. There is simply nothing about Albany - except the powerful special-interest public employee unions and the spineless politicians who bend to their will -- that warrants denying it the power to implement a parking permit system as well. Those who use our streets as commuter parking lots call permit parking discriminatory, and it is -- it discriminates against those who use public city streets for an improper purpose, and it discriminates in favor of not just residents, but anyone who wants to come in to the city for business or pleasure for a limited time. Nor would permit parking impose serious hardship on commuters. Downtown Albany is well-served by public transit and has ample park and ride lots in most suburban areas. People can carpool and split the cost of gas and of parking in a commercial lot. And anyone who really can't do without driving into the city alone every day will finally have to pay a little more of the cost to everyone else of that lifestyle choice. Permit parking could benefit the very people who complain about it. Once given the incentive to try it, they might like the savings they realize from carpooling or riding the bus, even just a few times a week, and everyone will notice a dramatic decrease in rush-hour traffic congestion and pollution. And less of my tax money will have to be spent on highway expansion for them. Stuart Cohen
I support a residential parking permit system in Albany. Joel Margolis Albany, NY	I wish to go on record as a very strong supporter of a Parking Permit system for the City of Albany, especially for the Downtown neighborhoods. John A. Frederick
As a homeowner in the Center Square area, I strongly SUPPORT the passage of a Permit Parking System in downtown Albany!! Thank you. Kyle Ruch	I live in the Mansion Neighborhood. I support parking permit legislation and I believe that the Mansion Neighborhood Association supports it as well! Ron Young
I was going to buy a car this year, and then wondered why I should bother - I would have to pay $1.00 an hour to park it (if I found a parking space)!! Why should the people who don't even live in Albany get to park in front of my house when I can't? MY $$ stays in Albany - I'll bet their $$ doesn't. I speak for the other tenants in my bldg. (who don't own computers) when I ask why union members who live in Slingerlands, Clifton Park, etc., get preferential treatment over the residents of downtown Albany?? Johanna Fitz