Clarification in the Parking Permit Kerfuffle
On Wednesday, it was reported in the Register-Star and referenced here on Gossips that the aldermen who had misgivings about the proposed law to require resident parking permits on streets around Columbia Memorial Hospital and voted against it did so because they believed the City had not worked with CMH in solving the problem and were concerned about unfair treatment of CMH employees. Today, Bill Van Slyke, spokesperson for CMH, sent Gossips this statement, to correct some of the misconceptions reportedly voiced by the aldermen.
CMH has several parking lots provided free of charge to all employees, including the American Legion lot, which each day is typically only 25% full. Our security staff provide escorts to the parking areas for any employees who so request, including to the Legion lot, which is about 500 ft. from the hospital entrance. In addition, the parking garage is free to staff in the evening and overnight hours. We've invested more than $10 million in parking for our staff, patients and visitors, and believe we have enough capacity that is not being fully used because free and legal on-street alternatives exist. We support the resident permit concept as a solution that will encourage more employees to use the Legion lot, which is free to our employees. We hope our support of the permit plan and the tremendous investments we have made in parking infrastructure demonstrate our commitment to being a good employer and neighbor, while also ensuring the parking needs of our patients and visitors are met.
Great to hear from CMH on this issue.
ReplyDeleteNow we only need CMH to care about public safety.
ReplyDeleteA parking space that's right next to the cross-walk on Prospect makes it next-to-impossible for southbound traffic to see crossing pedestrians until vehicles are nearly astride the cross-walk.
Going below the speed limit, I nearly took out my own doctor a few weeks ago.
There's a smallish, Suburu-type station wagon which is seemingly permanently parked in that space.
That parking space is very convenient for somebody, but it's a hazard to everyone else.
This entire parking scheme is a BOONDOGLE.
ReplyDeleteWHY? do employees even have to pay to park during the day? Unless there are too many spaces taken up by employees that visitors have no space. I have not been following this issue too closely, but it would seem to me that residents should not have to pay for a permit to park in front of their own house.
ReplyDelete