Tom Champion tries to justify parking changes

[ron_newman]

The Somerville Journal asked Tom Champion some questions about the new parking regulations, which were enacted without advance notice or democratic process by an unelected body, and are set to go into effect on August 1st.

Read the answers here:
Start saving: Parking meter rates and hours to increase, permit parking to expand citywide

(thanks to: Somerville Journal Blog)

(See also: very long DSLJ discussion from earlier this week
and Somerviile Chamber of Commerce's description of the changes)

Comments

[svilletheatre.livejournal.com]

I agree with much of what bryant is saying - these are tough times for all cities and towns, and all the people associated with them. And the mayor has assured us that our biggest concern - that the meters go to 3 hours or more at night - is being considered and evaluated. He doesn't want to hurt us - he has been very helpful to us on numerous issues, but he also faces laying off hundreds of people.

Short term meters till 10 would really hurt us; the ability to feed them for slightly longer than the length of a movie would hurt less. And I really appreciate everyone's concern for the theatre, but I want to make it clear that while we would prefer these changes didn't go through, we do not want to make it all about ourselves, or make it an "us versus the city" thing.

[bryant]

I'm seriously glad you're talking to the mayor. The Somerville Theater is a treasure. If you guys can get four hour meters, that'd be a win, I'd think.

It's interesting; the Somerville is the only urban movie theater I go to that doesn't have a parking garage at least nearby. When I go to the Kendall, I use their attached garage; ditto for the Fenway. The Brattle has that lot on Church St. I don't always have to use it but it's there. The lack of a garage for the Somerville puts you guys in a fairly unusual position, I'd imagine.

Obviously a new garage isn't going to magically materialize, alas. Still and all, hm. I wonder if they could do something with the Herbert St. lot? But adding a parking attendant costs money...

[ron_newman]

I don't understand why the owner of the lot behind CVS doesn't turn it into a pay lot at night. This would be a win for everyone. The lot totally goes to waste now, since the PRIVATE PARKING ONLY sign intimidates people from using it, yet it's nearly empty.