THE CITY SHOULDN’T BE TAKING MOTORISTS FOR A RIDE
Zablocki
calls
for all
parking
meters
to be
programmed
to turn
off on
Sunday;
At a
minimum,
he calls
for
better
signage
to alert
motorists
that
they
don’t
have to
‘feed
the
meter’
on
Sunday’s
New York – After a Sunday afternoon of answering questions about Sunday parking regulations while campaigning in Manhattan, Alex Zablocki, Republican candidate for Public Advocate, calls on Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan to program meters to not accept payment on Sunday.
In 2005, the City Council passed legislation allowing motorists to park at a metered space for free on Sunday. Parking meters and muni-meters still accept payment on Sunday, possibly milking motorists that either don’t know of the regulation or are confused by signs and play it safe by paying.
“With so many parking regulations in New York City, motorists find it confusing where they can park or if they have to pay. The reality is you don’t have to feed the meter on Sunday, but many motorists don’t realize this. The city should reprogram meters to not accept payment on Sunday or at the very least, place a notice at meters that no payment is required on Sunday.”, Alex Zablocki said.
This past Sunday, Alex Zablocki and his campaign staff were asked numerous times about parking meter regulations by drivers or they witnessed motorists purchasing muni-meter tickets when they weren’t required to. Reprogramming meters could save drivers money if they aren’t aware of the regulation or Zablocki suggests the Department of Transportation place a notice at muni-meters that payment is not necessary on Sunday’s.
“The city shouldn’t be collecting money for a service they legally aren’t rendering. It’s wrong. The Department of Transportation states that their muni-meter equipment is the most sophisticated available today. If it is, they should easily be able to turn them off at 12:01 Sunday morning, until midnight, Sunday night.”, Alex Zablocki said.
After an investigation by Alex Zablocki’s campaign, he found that signs were confusing throughout Manhattan regarding parking regulations, especially since all signs say “Pay at Muni-Meter” but some locations will have hourly parking regulations posted, with the words “Except Sunday”. Zablocki also noticed people were still purchasing time at muni-meters on Sunday even after reading the signs. In an effort to see if meters in Manhattan would accept money on Sunday (50 cents for 15 minutes), Alex purchased a parking ticket and it was processed. A picture of the dated ticket is attached.
According to the Department of Transportation website: “New York City uses some of the most sophisticated parking equipment available today. We are always making improvements and upgrades to the system …”
The Public Advocate is a citywide, charter mandated elected office that is not only an independent voice in city government, but is there to assist the residents of New York City with getting access to government services and working to make government work more efficiently. Alex Zablocki is the Republican candidate for Public Advocate and recently submitted nearly 30,000 petition signatures with the Board of Elections to qualify his candidacy. Alex is the youngest candidate to ever run for Public Advocate and has over six year’s experience working in city and state government as well as being a small business owner since 2001. Alex is a lifelong New Yorker and currently resides in the borough of Staten Island where he has owned a home in the Tottenville section for the past three years.
More information about Alex Zablocki and his candidacy for Public Advocate can be found at www.alex2009.com or by calling his campaign at 718-734-1093.
Alex Zablocki’s campaign can also be reached by sending a text message to 347-983-9370.
A picture of the muni-meter ticket and a muni-meter is attached to this press release.
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New York – After a Sunday afternoon of answering questions about Sunday parking regulations while campaigning in Manhattan, Alex Zablocki, Republican candidate for Public Advocate, calls on Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan to program meters to not accept payment on Sunday.
In 2005, the City Council passed legislation allowing motorists to park at a metered space for free on Sunday. Parking meters and muni-meters still accept payment on Sunday, possibly milking motorists that either don’t know of the regulation or are confused by signs and play it safe by paying.
“With so many parking regulations in New York City, motorists find it confusing where they can park or if they have to pay. The reality is you don’t have to feed the meter on Sunday, but many motorists don’t realize this. The city should reprogram meters to not accept payment on Sunday or at the very least, place a notice at meters that no payment is required on Sunday.”, Alex Zablocki said.
This past Sunday, Alex Zablocki and his campaign staff were asked numerous times about parking meter regulations by drivers or they witnessed motorists purchasing muni-meter tickets when they weren’t required to. Reprogramming meters could save drivers money if they aren’t aware of the regulation or Zablocki suggests the Department of Transportation place a notice at muni-meters that payment is not necessary on Sunday’s.
“The city shouldn’t be collecting money for a service they legally aren’t rendering. It’s wrong. The Department of Transportation states that their muni-meter equipment is the most sophisticated available today. If it is, they should easily be able to turn them off at 12:01 Sunday morning, until midnight, Sunday night.”, Alex Zablocki said.
After an investigation by Alex Zablocki’s campaign, he found that signs were confusing throughout Manhattan regarding parking regulations, especially since all signs say “Pay at Muni-Meter” but some locations will have hourly parking regulations posted, with the words “Except Sunday”. Zablocki also noticed people were still purchasing time at muni-meters on Sunday even after reading the signs. In an effort to see if meters in Manhattan would accept money on Sunday (50 cents for 15 minutes), Alex purchased a parking ticket and it was processed. A picture of the dated ticket is attached.
According to the Department of Transportation website: “New York City uses some of the most sophisticated parking equipment available today. We are always making improvements and upgrades to the system …”
The Public Advocate is a citywide, charter mandated elected office that is not only an independent voice in city government, but is there to assist the residents of New York City with getting access to government services and working to make government work more efficiently. Alex Zablocki is the Republican candidate for Public Advocate and recently submitted nearly 30,000 petition signatures with the Board of Elections to qualify his candidacy. Alex is the youngest candidate to ever run for Public Advocate and has over six year’s experience working in city and state government as well as being a small business owner since 2001. Alex is a lifelong New Yorker and currently resides in the borough of Staten Island where he has owned a home in the Tottenville section for the past three years.
More information about Alex Zablocki and his candidacy for Public Advocate can be found at www.alex2009.com or by calling his campaign at 718-734-1093.
Alex Zablocki’s campaign can also be reached by sending a text message to 347-983-9370.
A picture of the muni-meter ticket and a muni-meter is attached to this press release.
# # #
