Strikeslip Sheds Light on Downtown Parking

[Clipper]

strikeslip.blogspot.com/2011/06/picture-of-parking-problem.html

Once again, Strikeslip provides us with accurate information and an accurate aerial view of the TRUE parking situation downtown. Seems that the problem is not necessarily with a LACK of parking, but with a lack of FREE parking.

Seems that the major problem is that those complaining about parking, may quite possibly be simply wanting YOU the taxpayers to pay for their parking, rather than for them to do what people in most major cities do, and pay for parking. SOMEONE has to maintain the lots and garages, and THAT costs money. Why should that cost be passed to the taxpayer and the city rather than to the person who is actually availing themselves of the parking facility?

Thanks once again Strikeslip for shedding some light on a contentious subject, at a time when the outgoing administration is once more looking into closing off a busy city street for parking. strikeslip.blogspot.com/2011/06/pillaging-park-ave-for-parking.html

[Deleted]

I agree Clipper. I read Strike's blog & didn't realize that this proposal goes back to '07. Know what that means? All Uticans get ready to bend over. Picente is again getting ready to shove it to Uticans where it hurts the most. Why any Utican would even think about voting for this guy is beyond my comprehension. He hasen't done a damn thing for this city since the day he took office.

[Clipper]

I think much of it is a case of Utica becoming the "red headed stepchild" over the last few years in the eyes of County Government. It seems like being the county seat is no great advantage to the city, other than to be the first one screwed over in furthering the interests of County politicians. Maybe they need to take some of the property across from the county building between John, Catherine, and Park Ave. by eminent domain, pay the people the going price for the land, relocate the residents, and make that a parking lot for the county building.

Another option is to do away with all the landscaped ground and pave it for parking. There is enough grass around the County Office Bldg and Courthouse to make up the square footage that would be acquired by closing off Park Ave. Better to sacrifice patches of grass that serve only as "eye candy" than to close off an active and busy street, important to traffic flow.

I would think that paying for parking would be an option that should be looked at. What the hell. People are not stupid. They know that it costs money to maintain parking areas, so I don't think anyone would be terribly upset if they had to pay a buck to go to the county building a couple of times a year. Employees should be parking across the street, and not filling the limited available slots adjacent to the building and courthouse. The free employee lot should be controlled by a card access program or stickers and an attendant.

Uticans themselves are probably partially to blame. Simply because they don't go to the polls to unseat those that favor Rome and New Hartford over Utica, or that allow EDGE and other such entities take the focus away from the city and place it where it best serves THEIR self serving interests. Uticans need to stand up and be counted, or simply sit back and watch the city continue to deteriorate while your county taxes are spent everywhere but in the county seat.

To be completely honest, if I still lived in N Utica, I would vote to be annexed by the Town of Deerfield if given the option, and if I lived in S Utica, I would go with being annexed by New Hartford. At least one would get something for their county tax dollars that way, and the out of touch politicians that spend your money formulating pie in the sky master plans and building traffic round-a-bouts where there is no major traffic congestion, or parking lots where there is no overwhelming number of people to park in them, could pay for their own follies.

[Swimmy]

I wouldn't! New Hartford has its own problems. South Utica should just become its own township!

[Deleted]

I was downtown Sat. No need for parking on that day. I counter about 5 people and mayber 3 cars parked in front of the Old Woolworth's Building. Was joking with the bus driver that I was headed to Woolworths for lunch but someone closed the place. It is still open in England.