Dear Editor:
Recently I was pleased to receive an update from Ian Sacs, Director of Hoboken Department of Transportation and Parking, outlining recent department initiatives. Two in particular stuck out to me:
Updated Parking Policies—Protecting Limited Resident Parking: For years the city has failed to ticket non-residents parked overnight on the street. This is both frustrating to residents and a missed revenue opportunity. By enforcing the existing law the city will increase its revenue, and will, over time, change the undesired behavior of our guests. Some will argue that strict parking enforcement discourages guests from visiting Hoboken and patronizing our small businesses. I believe that is unlikely. If guests do not want to pay a parking ticket, or pay to park in a garage, then their host can provide them with a Daily Visitor Parking Permit for only $5.
City-Wide Car-Sharing Program: I hope the city does not intend to lease or purchase vehicles, and thus incur all associated liabilities. Reducing the number of cars parked on the street is a goal that all residents support, however this would be best achieved via a partnership with Zipcar or a similar company. Such a partnership would provide the desired upside for Hoboken (fewer cars on the street) without taking on the risks of managing an auto rental business (not the purpose of a city government). Adding a fleet of cars to the city’s balance sheet is especially imprudent given the recent failures to control city spending.
I appreciate the Department of Transportation and Parking’s efforts to improve the system, and I look forward to reading further clarification of these initiatives.
Ben Burns