There has rightfully been much ado regarding the BEARCAT attack vehicle in Keene recently, but all along, there’s another serious issue facing the people in this region. The money-hungry gang at the Keene Police Department have convinced the city council to install two parking kiosks downtown as a test. According to the police chief, Ken Meola, they are all about raising revenue. They estimate another $100,000 per year just for the parking division! I bet they can hire another enforcer with that money – doesn’t everyone want to see more parking enforcers on the street? Is there a way for me to paint those words with more sarcasm?
As you might imagine, many people in Keene do not want these parking meters, but they should speak for themselves. The Keene Sentinel recently published a letter from Luann Udell that outlines some great reasons the city council should say no to these awful meters. (Of course, ALL the meters should go, but that’s another issue entirely.) Here’s Luann’s letter:
Parking kiosks are a problem
To whomever makes parking meter purchase decisions:
I am not enjoying the new parking meter system in downtown Keene. And if we can judge by the unusually high number of empty parking spaces in that area lately, I have a lot of company.
I’ve had to wait in line at the kiosks, even when I simply need six minutes to run an errand.
No matter where I park, I have to detour to go to the kiosk. In fact, this system completely eliminates the concept of a “great parking spot.” It’s no longer in front of your destination store, because you still have to go out of your way to get to the kiosk.
When the weather is lovely and my arthritis isn’t acting up, and now that I no longer have small children in tow, a detour to a kiosk is no big deal. But when snowbanks are piled high, when it’s raining or freezing out, when sidewalks are icy, when I’m in a hurry, when I’m carrying a child or two, when I’m recovering from yet another knee surgery, that extra trip is just a pain, literally and figuratively.
The kiosks don’t accept debit cards or credit cards, so we’re still stuck fumbling for change. However, it looks like it will be lucrative for the city, because when the kiosks misfire and refuse to accept change, you have to put a dollar in no matter how little time you need. And when it refuses to make change, well, we lose again.
But who really loses? Downtown merchants.
This morning, I went to Prime Roast for coffee. The row of spaces in front of their store was completely empty, except for one car. I haven’t seen the street that empty, on a weekday morning, in 20 years.
If you make it a hassle for customers to patronize downtown businesses, they will go somewhere else to shop.
I’d rather have the old meters back. Simple and quick. Or better yet, a meter (no kiosk, please, God! ) that accepts change, dollars and debit/credit cards.
Or a parking pass card, like EZ Pass.
Pay a monthly or annual fee, get a car sticker or a swipe card, and never worry again about how many quarters I have.
Please — just make it less annoying to shop downtown, okay?
LUANN UDELL
271 Roxbury St.
Keene
