It is not known (not known by Gossips at least) when or why the practice of suspending all parking fees for the month of December was initiated in Hudson, but it seems likely that it may have started in the 1970s as a means to lure holiday shoppers back to Warren Street from the strip malls of Greenport.
Whenever it started and for whatever reason, the tradition has been slavishly observed by every mayor in living memory, until now. The following announcement was just issued by Mayor Joseph Ferris:
My office has decided that there will be no parking holiday for the month of December.
With the transition from quarters to ParkMobile, Text2Pay, and T2 kiosks, we would continue to pay both monthly fees to these companies in December as well as paying Parking Enforcement staff who would be working the month in a limited capacity--parking holiday or no holiday.
Between staff and technology fees, this would cost taxpayers $11,601.42.
As the Board of Estimate and Apportionment has begun the process of creating the FY2027 budget for the City, it has become clear we need to make sure we are making policy decisions that do not leave taxpayers paying for services that we are not using.
Parking fees will be suspended on December 25/Christmas per City code.
Good call and finally some courage in City Hall. It was well overdue. I get when the policy started Warren St was on the decline and Fairview was the new thing. We all know that’s different now and it makes no sense to give something away, at the taxpayers expense, to tourist who come anyway and laugh about how cheap parking is in Hudson compared to everywhere else (I overhear this once a week). I’m sure the Facebook townies will seethe over this, like anything Joe does, because he didn’t go to Hudson High School. But these people will also state in the same comment that they haven’t been to Warren St in years, maybe angrily typing from their southern retirement communities.
ReplyDeleteThis will also save the city more than just the sunk costs of parking apps and attendants, but also the opportunity costs of the revenue that will be made during a busy holiday season. Has anyone noticed how busy the city has been this entire week, even past the holiday weekend? I’d rather tourist foot the bill than residents. And they’re happy to do it.
Next up, start charging on Sundays. The few churchgoers left in Hudson park on the side streets. If you want to promote business, suspend parking charges during the slow periods: Tuesdays and February.
In other words, the kiosks killed the Christmas spirit designed to help downtown businesses (those that remain at least). Add this to the list of long and short term benefits brought to us by the $10,000 parking kiosks, hundreds of parking signs, Kamal Johnson, Jen Belton and Tommy D of the Parking Study Committee who found a non-existent problem to fix, two paid parking consultants, and a city hall desperate for cash and direction. Joe Ferris and Margaret Morris will begin their reelection campaigns in 6 or 7 months. 5 if we are lucky.
ReplyDeleteJoe should be commended for ending an unwise tradition.
ReplyDeleteThe City needs revenue, and consumption based fees and taxes are generally wiser.
Besides... all the lawsuits Joe is creating or extending for Hudson will run into the six figures and someone has to pay City Attorney Andy Howard's property taxes on Allen Street.