Parking has been a problem in Trenton for far too long
Let’s play City of Trenton parking history.
Come on. It’s cold outside, actually freezing and the winds blowing a brisk clip. Couple questions and then you can binge watch whatever show that can grasp your attention.
Here’s a headline. “Department of Community Affairs tells Trenton leaders to fix parking problems or miss out on $25 million in transitional aid.”
Long headline but you get the point. Now. When did that story line appear in local newspapers. Forget the Jeopardy music. How about playing John Mellencamp’s “Authority” song in honor of the Trenton Parking Authority.
“I fight authority, authority always win. I fight authority, authority always wins. I’ve been doing it since I was a young kid, come out grinnin’, I fight authority, authority always wins.”
Times up. The DCA threatened Trenton in April 2013, told city leaders and council members, many of them still serving as representatives, that the coin-fed meters were old, poorly maintained and that enforcement lagged.
Trenton officials received instructions to work with the Trenton Parking Authority to develop a plan that could make parking a profitable enterprise.
DCA officials had expected to receive details of a new strategic plan in July of 2013. Four years have passed and Trenton shadow boxes a parking problem that requires new meters and stepped up enforcement. Here’s another one. “Trenton Downtown Association commissions audit to address downtown parking issues.”
That story ran in August, 2012 after small business owners complained that the few meters near their stores close to the hotel were filled by drivers with handicap parking placards.
A business owner complained that she had been fighting this issue for years. The audit discovered that 96 percent of the city’s nearly 800 parking spaces were in use during workday hours.
Okay. One more before a nice bowl of oatmeal and second cup of coffee. In fact, anyone who gets this one right deserves a free macchiato frappe whatever at the soon to be opened Starbucks on South Warren St. in Trenton.
Governor-elect Phil Murphy or current Governor Chris Christie should take care of the bill. Instructions available for Christie since he has no idea that a downtown exists in Trenton.
Here we go. “Trenton to close downtown parking garage due to structural damage.” Same crappy year, different month.
That occurred in July 2012 as 500 potential parking spaces were removed from the city’s parking equation. That matters, especially since the garage remains closed.
Parking matters for development of a healthy city, especially regarding issues that concern businesses. Honestly, we could play this parking game all day because it’s been a City of Trenton issue for at least the past decade.
Trenton needs an upgrade in meters whether that’s smart meters or pay-by-space parking meter kiosks. In reality, nothing delivers successful parking agendas like enforcement.
This capital city should invest in more attendants like those who hustle in Princeton. In fact, an idea here if permissible, would pay Trenton parking attendants’ salaries partially by commission.
The Trentonian would have to hire a new columnist as Parker the Parking Attendant ran roughshod over this capital city. (In 30 years of writing, that’s probably the first ever use of “roughshod”.)
A parking attendant could become a millionaire just by lurking on Walnut Ave. in the rear of the Trenton Transit Center.
Seven meters. Seven cars parked illegally. $60 fine times 7 equals $420. Seventy-thirty split. That’s $126 made in about 10 minutes.
Trenton lacks the parking attendant numbers to actively and effectively patrol city areas but we do have police available to walk downtown and issue parking tickets while showing a police presence.
Next, a morning spent behind a street sweeper would deliver amazing cash flow. If we want a cleaner Trenton then parking attendants or police should ride behind street sweepers as they move around illegally parked vehicles.
This is not rocket science here. Trenton needs a change of strategy and an understanding that we need every city employee ready for action and delivering a hard day’s work for equitable pay.
By the way, all city council members have a voice and input regarding Trenton’s parking issue. Those representatives and the city administration have a role in the parking problems and solutions.
Perhaps, many of the city’s problems have more to do with leadership. Stop electing people who park their derrieres in seats and who show up on your street only when they need your vote.
As a May 2018 election looms, get to know the issues and options.
Trenton needs smart meters and smart leaders.
L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Reach him at laparker@ trentonian.com. Follow him on Twitter @laparker6.