To the Editor,
As I stated in my Letter to the Editor of Oct. 7, I am in favor of single-space meters if taxpayers are willing to pay the additional cost of more than $300,000 per year compared to multi-space meters, and I insist that residents be fully informed of the trade-offs.
Here are the facts:
• This $300,000-plus cost differential was determined by a village staff analysis that will be finalized shortly.
• The analysis was shared with the Parking Advisory Committee and the Board of Trustees before the Oct. 14 article was reported and written.
• As was clear from her comments at the Oct. 13 Board of Trustees meeting, Maria DeRose, chairwoman of the parking committee, had not reviewed or understood the staff analysis when she shared her views for the Oct. 14 article.
I hope the Review will follow up with DeRose and address whether she believes that the single-space meters should be installed regardless of the cost to taxpayers.
In fact, I am concerned about parking convenience on Mamaroneck Avenue for those who have trouble with new technology or lack smartphones that enable drivers to use the multi-space meter parking
app.
In particular, seniors have voiced such concerns. If village taxpayers want to save $2 million over the next seven years, there are simple workarounds that would address these concerns. For example, business owners could offer to use the parking app and enter a customer’s space number and receive payment directly from their customer in cash or by credit card. The Chamber of Commerce could work with the village to develop a program with business owners to offer such a service to their customers.
Let me say it again: If, after a full consideration of the cost trade-offs, village taxpayers want to install new single-space meters, I will gladly vote in favor of the single-space meters. Let’s be open and truthful about the trade-offs among the alternatives and let the residents decide.
Leon Potok,
Trustee, village of Mamaroneck
