Dear Editor:
I would like to provide an update on some important quality of life issues that affect our community.
My Administration has been working with 5th Ward Councilman Peter Cunningham on legislation passed this week that will create 850 new parking spaces near corners in a way that does not impact public safety or pedestrian safety. I thank Director Sacs and Fire Chief Blohm for their careful analysis to ensure that the new rules do not affect response times for our emergency vehicles.
While current state law prohibits parking within 25 feet of a crosswalk, the new “Extended Parking Zones” will permit parking within 15 feet of crosswalks on “outbound” legs of streets between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. when public schools are not in session. Please note that because of the need to ensure clearances for fire apparatus and other emergency response vehicles, the new rules will be strictly enforced and cars may be towed if they may delay response times. We will be marking curbs and mailing residents with more detailed information on the new rules.
Also, this year for the first time, we will be launching an online parking permit system, making it possible to conduct all your business with the Parking Utility whenever you want. Existing permit holders should keep an eye out for emails and mailings from the Parking Utility announcing the new system when it is launched shortly.
Finally, I want to assure residents that I remain extremely committed to protecting our waterfront, the treasure of our city which should remain a public space for all to enjoy. That is why my administration appealed the recent DEP decision for the Monarch project – a process that could take one to two years. I thank the Fund for a Better Waterfront, Hoboken Residents for a Public Waterfront, and the City Council for the unified effort to protect our waterfront.
Sincerely,
Mayor Zimmer