I am submitting this letter concerning the recent proposal and statements by Councilman Steven Fulop in regards to the issue of parking in our city and the booting of vehicles that are not properly identified. Please note that I served as Executive Director of the Jersey City Parking Authority for 10 years and also as a Commissioner of the Agency.
I review with amazement the recent proposal of Mr. Fulop and request an explanation from the councilman on whom in Jersey City he really represents; it appears certainly not our residents. It is evident that he wants to curb the enforcement of the parking regulations, the same regulations that assist the law abiding people of Jersey City to find parking in the vicinity of their residences and to prevent the out of towners from parking in the areas while they attend work, usually in New York City. The regulations in contention were enacted over time and with the request and the review of the residents in the neighborhoods. In fact at the time of the approval of the rules, both Councilman William A. Gaughan and then Council president Thomas DeGise attended and participated in the block group meeting concerning the regulations. As a result, no area was designated as a permit zone without residential approval.
Please note that any lawful resident can easily obtain a parking permit preventing any penalty including booting or towing. If a non-resident works in Jersey City, they can also apply for a permit to park in the zone that they are employed.
It appears that Councilman Fulop is attempting to disregard the rights of the Jersey City residents to be able to park in or around their residences. Mr. Fulop speaks about himself being booted; as a lawmaker in this city you should certainly respect the law and obtain a parking permit. Also in regards to the issue of the three failure to appear notices before any penalties are issued, under normal circumstances it would take several months for these to appear and this would permit the non-resident without a proper permit to continue to park and deprive our residents of the rightful parking spaces, and in addition a parker in violation would be aware of this three strikes rule and would then pay at least one fine and the countdown of three would then start all over again. Also Mr. Fulop would protect the lawbreakers who register their vehicles out of town for insurance purposes and thus commit an act of fraud.
Mr. Fulop you should be guided by and take lessons from Councilman Gaughan who certainly has the interests of law abiding Jersey City residents at heart. It is only right and fair to permit the Jersey City persons to give their input into these circumstances. I feel that Mr. Fulop is favoring the out of town parkers over the interests of the Jersey City dwellers. Please start representing the people of Jersey City. It should be noted above all that the Jersey City Parking Authority is only doing the job that the lawful residents through their Councilpersons have instructed them to do.
Sincerely,
Carmine Venezia
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