Political? Yes, but pertinent to NYC riders
I've always believed that one of government's core responsibilities is finding innovative new ways to cut bureaucratic red tape and make it easier for people to get answers and results - quickly. This belief has led to some of our most customer-friendly initiatives: 311, which now receives 50,000 calls on the average day; online business permits and credit card machines in every yellow cab.
Now, we want to make life a little easier for New Yorkers on an issue that is so often a source of frustration: parking. We want to make it easier to find a parking spot, easier to avoid a ticket, and - if you do get a ticket - easier to pay it, by paying over the phone or on a wireless PDA device.
How would you like to use your mobile device to see a map of available parking spaces in your neighborhood - and also use it to pay your meter? Or how about getting a text message as your meter is about to expire, so you can get back to your car before getting a ticket? We're going to begin studying and testing new technology that would allow us to do all of those things.
We're also trying to make parking less of a hassle by working with community boards to review existing parking regulations. We have already reduced alternate-side-of-the-street parking in various Brooklyn neighborhoods, including Park Slope, Carroll Gardens and Red Hook.
Other changes are also underway in other areas of the borough, and soon, we'll begin a pilot program in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. As these changes are adopted, we'll examine the impact they have on street cleanliness, and if they prove effective, we'll work to make similar changes to parking regulations in more areas across the city. These parking changes will not only cut down on traffic; they will cut down on the air pollution, carbon emissions and accidents that come with it.
We also want to make it more convenient to pay a parking ticket. Right now, you can pay by credit card - but there is a $2 fee to cover the transaction charge imposed by the credit card companies. That's why we'll explore the possibility of allowing free automatic electronic money transfers - as many New Yorkers now use in paying their utility and phone bills.
We also want more parking scofflaws to come forward. Racking up overdue fines hurts the individual, and it deprives the city of revenue. Right now, the city is owed almost $700 million in overdue parking fines, some dating as far back as 2001. That's a lot of money - enough to pay the salaries of more than 7,000 police officers. And especially in these difficult economic times, losing that revenue means cuts elsewhere in the budget. So we'll examine the experience of cities that have reduced penalties for those with outstanding fines so long as they come forward to pay and clear their record and see if such a program would be effective in New York.
Finally, we know that getting a ticket can sometimes be a frustrating experience, and while most of our traffic enforcement agents are courteous and professional, we are always working to improve customer service. Getting a parking ticket will never be a cause for celebration, but to reduce the tensions that can arise, we will increase sensitivity training for all traffic enforcement agents.
We've made great progress improving the level and quality of customer service that city government delivers, but we know we still have much more work to do. By taking on a challenge that can drive New Yorkers a little crazy - parking - and putting new technology to work, we can make it easier to find a parking spot, easier to avoid a ticket, easier to pay a fine and easier to interact with traffic agents. Who said parking in New York had to be so hard?
Read more:
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/09/30/2009-09-30_my_big_parking_promises.html#ixzz0SdyinZWeI cannot wait until I can vote this guy OUT of office. check out some of the comments people have posted on the link, all spot on. I am so sick of getting shit in the mail from this guy.
