More parking spaces needed in Woodmere

To the Editor:

As a small-business owner, I found Town of Hempstead spokesman Michael Deery’s comments out of touch with the current needs of the local Woodmere businesses (“Ticked off about being ticketed,” Aug. 25-31).

What Mr. Deery does not take into consideration is that the Woodmere Business District has changed a lot since 1974, when it created the current parking limits. Maybe we should leave the fines at the same amount as 1974.

In 1976, the WBD was geared toward retailers who needed 90-minute parking for their customers. In the last five years, many owners converted these retail buildings into office and medical space. Three prime examples of converted vacant retail stores are these former businesses: Justin’s Hardware, Bakers Variety and Owl Galleries, all on Broadway.

The increase in full-timers working at the businesses that now occupy those spaces exceeds 75 people. That already exceeds the 58 parking spaces with eight-hour limits Mr. Deery referred to. This does not include all the new medical offices now within in the WBD.

What we need is responsive local politicians who will help us get more eight-hour parking stalls. The local investment in these formerly vacant buildings needs to be encouraged.

I hope our local representatives will help us.

Lewis Barbanel 
Woodmere business owner