Dear fellow citizens and WPCNR readers-
The email of Rick Ammirato, Executive Director of the Downtown Business Improvement District, was the most self-serving communication that I ever read! Also, his communication was most insulting. While the citizens of White Plains are suffering through a "parking ticket blitz" Mr. Ammirato had the nerve to suggest that taking over the street to accommodate valet parking is seemingly OK. I absolutely don't agree with him that "restaurants should be allowed to offer it (valet parking)." If allowed for restaurants, valet parking would certainly spread to other businesses and the concept of a pedestrian friendly downtown would effectively be "killed."
There is no room for valet parking. There is no need to perform an "exhaustive study" or to "collect data." It is common sense that valet parking is overextending the City's welcome and obstructing traffic is breaking the law.
Studying and collecting data regarding valet parking is like telling someone that a weatherman should be consulted to determine if it is raining. No! ... All one has to do is to look outside. In the case of the traffic congestion that is caused by valet parking, just stop it! Yes, stop it immediately. Let restaurant customers drive directly into the garage that the Citizens of White Plains unwittingly paid $22 million towards.
The illegal behavior being advocated reminds me of a restaurant in the Bronx that routinely violates the community by blocking the street with valet parking. However, White Plains isn't the Bronx.
Furthermore, while Mr. Ammirato claims that the restaurants "contribute millions of dollars of revenue" he fails to recognize that the owners of the commercial buildings in which they operate don't carry their fair share of real estate taxes. The incumbent members of the Common Council have given commercial property owners huge tax breaks. The commercial owners have benefited from "giveaway" PILOTs and tax breaks worth much more. Last year commercial real estate assessments declined 8% while residential assessments remained steady. Indeed, while the commercial owners received tax breaks, the homeowners of White Plains have become the City's "deep pockets."
The citizens of White Plains need not tolerate the traffic congestion caused by the valet parking ciaos being advocated. Restaurants operators must respect White Plains. Indeed, they should mind their "P's and Q's."
Readers take special note -- Valet parking is particularly problematic at the intersection of Mamaroneck Avenue and Main Street. The second question to ask is "How did this happen to White Plains?" The answer is that the mayor and the Common Council allowed the intersection of Mamaroneck Avenue and Main Street to become one of the City's "choke points." Why? When the Common Council granted a variance for building City Center they "caved" to the wishes of a developer and ignored the likely increase in traffic that the "vibrant" city would create. The Council did not insist that City Center be set back a sufficient amount so that a wider street with more lanes could be constructed which would have better accommodated traffic. Poor planning, no, very very poor planning!
Readers, demand that the City act on your behalf. Also, remember that the incumbent candidates gave you this problem.
If elected to Common Council I won't sit back and let the special interests step on you. I will work diligently for you to:
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control downtown traffic;
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promote pedestrian safety;
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work to make commercial property owners pay their "fair share" and give to the community at least part of what they "take out."
Sincerely,
John Carlson
