» Community Board 7 Says ‘Yes’ to Paid Parking on Sundays

Community Board 7 Says ‘Yes’ to Paid Parking on Sundays

Sunday, September 12th, 2010

dog_and_parking_meter Community Board 7 met last Tuesday to decide whether to keep Sunday parking on the Upper West Side free, and the result of the meeting is bad news for those who saved some cash from the 2005 City Council rule. The board voted 21-12 to eliminate free Sunday parking, according to DNAinfo. While the free parking had initially been enacted to eliminate a “pay-to-pray” problem for churchgoers, Marc Grazer, a member of the board, argued that drivers linger in the free parking spaces for hours, meaning less parking for businesses in the major retail areas, such as Columbus Avenue. Although the proposal was approved, the paid parking won’t be a done deal until the City Council to support the measure. Gale Brewer, the Upper West Side City Council representative, is in favor of the proposal but worries about the effect on community members, according to Grazer. The board will bring the measure to City Council in coming weeks, but in the meantime, Sunday churchgoers are still able to park on the Upper West Side for free.