Parking policy should be changed

To the Editor:

Let me add my voice to those who are unhappy about the recent increases in fees of parking meters.

Obviously the increased rates are needed to recapture revenue lost when the Board of Trustees voted for free parking after 6 p.m. What this means is that those of us who shop and patronize businesses in town on a regular/daily basis are subsidizing our neighbors from Lynbrook and Oceanside and Baldwin who come to RVC perhaps once a week to drink in the bars and eat in the restaurants. Sound fair? No, not to me either. 

The answer, as I have said at other times and in other venues, is to re-institute paid parking after 6 p.m., but with a reduced fee. Perhaps a dollar or two for three hours of time. This will mean that people can put money in the meters once and go to the movies or have dinner without having to run out in the middle to feed the meter, or risk a ticket. This way, out-of-towners contribute their fair share to the local economy. And I can’t imagine that it will cause any damage to the bars and restaurants.

Oh, and by the way, an expansion of the free parking program to include all day Saturday has been mentioned. That means less revenue. And pretty soon we’ll need a credit card, not change, to park on a daily basis.

Marc Wieman

Rockville Centre