... "It's not the parking authority's job to legislate, that city council's province. We have heard the customers, the consumers, the resident's complaints and we have tried to take the lead on legislation that would mitigate a lot of these issues if these archaic ordinances were changed,"
As a long term observer of the Parking Monster, I will take a wait and see attitude before any celebration. I'm suspicious of the Authority referring to archaic ordinances. They themselves proposed the ordinances, and some, especially the 24 hour patrols, were only instituted rather recently. Another question is the disclaimer that they will still respond to complaints 24/7.
The only thing more reluctant to change than the monster, is the monster's keeper, city council...Its deliberation on the more minor issues is stretching on for a month. Council, as a whole, will not bend on the alley parking issue. I do believe that enforcement will be more equitable than before. Tuerk has made it an issue, and he would suffer political consequences if he deserts the cause. Nevertheless, don't suppose that the monster is napping.
The fact that Candida Affa voted for using $10k of taxpayers money for a study a month ago and last night had to have to explained to her numerous times is telling that she shouldn’t be running for another term. Her blatant disrespect for citizens addressing council by sighing, rolling her eyes, rubbing her head is also a clear indication that her time is up as she doesn’t listen to the people she represents. Councils purpose lately seems to be approved money from here to there, not actually improving the lives of their constituents. But thank goodness Candida was first on hand to a fire that broke out by Henry’s so she could use it in a dramatic speech to shut down an ordinance that a citizen she doesn’t like supports, instead of trying to come up with an alternative to the blanket city alley ordinance.
ReplyDeleteThose in charge who want to do nothing form committees to it or have studies done. Note both Matt and Ce-Ce are in favor of this approach. Both are demonstrating their political ambitions trump what's best for the rather good.
ReplyDeleteI was glad the Candida Affa took an assertive stand against this terrible idea of letting people park in the alleys. She seems open to changes in the parking regulations without supporting really stupid and dangerous ideas such a alley parking. This would have been a terrible idea. That she has actively addressed quality of life issues and is endorsed by the FOP and the Fire Fighters Local is impressive to me. I'm hoping she is re-elected.
ReplyDeleteIf you had read the wording to the proposed changes you would see that it very clearly says "except for streets controlled by parking signs."
DeleteIf the street is marked No Parking it means No Parking on that street. That is not going to change. It is only streets with no parking restrictions that will be affected such as the 2200 block of Utica Street. Everyone needs to actually READ the proposed changes instead of bloviating about it. And after the meeting the fire chief sat down with me and I showed him photos of my block and how we are parked on OUR OWN PROPERTY and not the street at all he agreed with me and said he had no problem with our block at all and would have plenty of room for his trucks.
All Allentown Alleys are not created equal. The alleys in the downtown are very narrow as are the garage aprons, as well there are either no sidewalks or very small sidewalks. The further west you go the wider the alleys and sidewalks, garage aprons become. This sort of obvious fact seems lost on city leaders. Clearly council seems incapable of basic problem solving, nuance, and common sense. Reaching a workable solution to any problem is beyond their ability. Ditto for Matt.
ReplyDeleteOn this issue, I would argue that City Council is doing a good job of evaluating the deficiencies of the parking regulations and avoiding making quick and bad policy decisions. Andrew Street (the alley behind the house fire site on W. Allen Street) is 13' wide, if parking prohibitions had been lifted, there's no way fire fighters would have been able to access the rears of the houses. Opening up the alleys to car parking would have been a disaster and I am glad City Council used some common sense on this issue.
ReplyDeletePLEASE READ THE PROPOSED CHANGES!!!!! If a street is marked NO PARKING it will REMAIN NO PARKING. Andrew Street is NO PARKING. Parking prohibitions are NOT being lifted. This only affects streets that do NOT have parking restrictions. Please educate yourself before congratulating City Council members who can't remember what they voted for two weeks ago
DeleteLike you, I am skeptical of the Authority and certainly not celebrating. A few comments below (apologies in advance for the length of the post):
ReplyDeleteImmediate Action for Council and the Mayor to Take:
1. As Mr. Armstrong noted, all alleys in the city are not created equal. So they shouldn’t be treated like they are. I believe one of those leading the charge against the APA abuses started her crusade because she had been ticketed in an alley that wasn’t even marked for “No Parking”. If that’s the case, let’s start with not issuing tickets anywhere that are not clearly marked “No Parking”. If the City wants to change the situation on any alley, they should notify the affected homeowners and allow them to make their case. That’s the way good government should work anyway.
2. Council should definitely increase the maximum distance a car can park from a curb; and allow impounded vehicles to be released after payment of parking tickets or in compliance with a payment plan imposed by a judge. Those are no brainers.
Immediate Action for the Parking Authority to Take:
1. Go back to the hours that it had two years ago. While they announced they would be ending 24/7 enforcement, I’m not sure that they still aren’t above the hours they previously had. Going back to 2021 (or even pre-Covid) hours should be the standard. Whichever is shortest.
2. I’m fine with after-hours being complaint-driven only, but they should only be for limited issues and the Authority should be required to maintain records of each complaint, as well as the ticketing officer. Those records must be open to public record requests. That will hopefully avoid the opportunity for “phantom” complaints by abusive employees.
3. Ticketing by the Authority for expired inspections or registrations should be limited to those vehicles being cited for another offense. If no other violation is present, they can write warning tickets only for registration or inspection violations. This will end the days of trolling neighborhoods for revenue and would actually provide a public service in a non-adversarial way.
4. The APA should stop installing mid-block kiosks and go back to individual parking meters. Individual meters are faster and more user-friendly for those visiting areas of the city that are metered.
5. The APA should once again allow back-in parking in their garages. This allows users to park in the way that is convenient to them, as well as to more safely exit their spaces when a large event is over.
6. Related to the last point, the APA should stop the practice of scanning plates in their garages. This practice draws nobody downtown.
7. The APA should retain plate and vehicle information for the shortest amount of time needed, and assure the public that any data collected is not being stored or is being erased on an immediate basis (again, except as needed for vehicles cited for legitimate parking violations).
Long-Tem Action for Council and the Mayor to Take:
1. It should be obvious that the Parking Authority is no longer working to the benefit of city residents or for those wanting more visitors to the city. The Parking Authority has outlived its purpose and should be disbanded. Authority functions that are beneficial to the goals of City Hall should be brought in-house. This will allow closer oversight of parking issues in the city by both the Mayor and the entire City Council how they relate to the bigger pictures regarding quality-of-life and attracting people downtown.
2. Finally, if the Mayor or any on council are concerned that the Authority’s financial situation might negatively impact the City, that should be all the more reason to quickly disband the Authority. The APA is already a component unit of the city in terms of its financial picture, and city taxpayers are ultimately on the hook for any debt the Authority approves. Waiting to disband the Authority and bring its functions in-house would only let a bad situation get worse.
Wow. I could not have said it any better myself. Thank you!
DeleteMaybe the Police can be scrutinized next. Stop 24 hour police coverage with limited law enforcement and warnings issued instead of arrests. Maybe all motor vehicle violations can be tossed aside and we can allow universal double parking, red light running, speeding and driving without insurance etc... Citations issued by the Police can be limited and law breakers can be allowed to do as they please so that no one is inconvenienced or put out.
ReplyDeleteExcept for stopping the 24 hour policing everything is happening already.
DeleteYES... let's scrutinize the police!!! Where have you been 3:51??? " Maybe all motor vehicle violations can be tossed aside and we can allow universal double parking, red light running, speeding and driving without insurance etc... Citations issued by the Police can be limited and law breakers can be allowed to do as they please so that no one is inconvenienced or put out." THIS IS AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE!!!! I have nearly been broadsided or broadsided a vehicle that ran the red light AT SPEED!!! BUT, if you fail to notice your turnsignal clicked off, an officer is johnny on the spot!!! You can't make this $**t up...and I drive very little but witness it most every time I venture out. You take your life in your hands when you drive in Allentown!!!
DeleteAnd still nothing is being done about handicapped parking and no parking in front of our stores, namely, giant,redner's, super fresh. All on Southside.
ReplyDeleteA lot of sides to this. Enforcing violations should not be wrong.
ReplyDelete