Action Center
Oppose the Albany Permit Parking Legislation

Tell your senator to vote “no” on the legislation to implement permit perking in the city of Albany.

A bill (S396/A1039) that will allow the City of Albany to enact permit parking in a one-mile radius around the Empire State Plaza has passed the Assembly and awaits action by the Senate.  The bill will allow the city to reduce by nearly 30% the on street parking spaces available in the area covered by the legislation.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Oppose the Albany Permit Parking Legislation

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a local resident and constituent, I am strongly opposed to S396/A1039 which would allow the City of Albany to implement a permit parking system within a one-mile radius around the Empire State Plaza.

As the capital city of New York, the city of Albany has a special obligation to the public to ensure that public streets remain open to use by all of our citizens. I believe the public streets should not be restricted to use by a small group for any purpose including parking.

Parking problems in Albany as in many cities are not a new development. Current residents moved into their residences well aware of the neighborhood conditions including limited parking. Restricting parking to residents only around the Empire State Plaza would inconvenience many other citizens and could have negative impacts on small businesses in the city, as well as create a hardship for those employees who cannot afford the fees charged by public or private parking facilities.

The effect of this legislation would be to reduce by nearly 30% the number of on street parking spaces available to the general public in the area covered by the legislation, without any provisions to address the lost parking capacity.

I believe the solution to parking shortages is to create more parking spaces, not to pit one group of citizens against another by rationing the limited space available.

I am asking that you oppose S396/A1039 and urge your colleagues in both the Senate and Assembly to work with Gov. Paterson and city leaders on creating new parking availability which is long overdue.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
July 20, 2009


Background Information

Currently, there are approximately 9,000 on street parking spaces within the one-mile radius of the Empire State Plaza the Albany parking permit legislation would restrict 2,750 parking spaces or more than 30% of the available on street parking without  addressing the lost parking capacity.

Parking problems in Albany as in many cities are not a new development.  Current residents moved into their residences well aware of the neighborhood conditions including limited parking.  Restricting parking to residents only around the Empire State Plaza would inconvenience many other citizens and could have negative impacts on small businesses in the city, as well as create a hardship for those employees who cannot afford the fees charged by public or private parking facilities.

The effect of this legislation would be to reduce by nearly 30% the number of on street parking spaces available to the general public in the area covered by the legislation, without any provisions to address the lost parking capacity.