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To the Editor:
A lot of (well-meaning) folks are assuming that all residents and businesses have the same opinion about the roll-out of the paid parking lots in downtown. Rather than craft a new letter on the subject, I am sharing as my LTE a copy of the communication I sent to the Select Board, and the further response I sent after one member wrote back to me:
Dear Select Board:
Thank you for taking the time to consider input from residents and businesses regarding the new paid parking program in two downtown lots.
As a local business owner, resident, and former member of the PARC committee, I’d like to share some feedback that you may not be hearing as “loudly.”
Because I was on PARC, a lot of downtown businesses reach out to me to talk about parking, because they think I still play some active role in decisions around downtown parking. While I have clarified that this is no longer the case, nonetheless I have had many conversations with multiple businesses in the downtown over the last two weeks, who are actually happy about the paid parking initiative, but don’t want to say so publicly because there has been so much public negativity. Many have reported an increase in sales vs. the same period last year, and that they have had feedback from their customers that it is easier to find a spot in the parking lot. My business has had a similar experience.
I will also share that many of our customers at Whitelam Books are senior citizens, and quite a few have shared with us how annoyed and frankly insulted they are that folks are claiming that they are not capable of using the kiosks or the app. While some people may need assistance (and this could be true regardless of age,) our senior customers have expressed that they are more than capable of pushing a few buttons, as they are used to navigating self-service gas pumps and paid parking in other towns. Repeatedly declaring an entire segment of the population incompetent in the guise of caring and support is demeaning. Underestimate our seniors at your peril – they will not stand for it.
Similarly, your well-intentioned outrage on behalf of the downtown businesses is misplaced and not helpful. Instead of constantly beating the drum of “how terrible,” it would be more helpful if you used your platform to encourage downtown dining, styling, and shopping, and promote the message that it is now even easier to come downtown and do these things. There has been good feedback to the Town staff about some improved communication and signage around paid parking, and they are working on it. The PARC committee, including Chris Haley, made the recommendation for this program, and Town Meeting then voted to approve it. It is your job to help facilitate it, not to derail it. Please continue to work with Town staff on ways to make the transition easier.
If you are looking for a way to provide legitimate financial assistance to local businesses, revisit free or dramatically reduced-price employee parking permits.
I know that each and every one of you has the best intentions in trying to support our local businesses, and our town in general. Thank you for your service to our community, and thank you for your time and consideration.
Liz Whitelam
Gilmore Avenue
Town Meeting Member Precinct 4
Owner of Whitelam Books, 610 Main Street
Erstwhile member of PARC
My further response to the response I got back.I appreciate the response. The signage is definitely lacking, and Jayne Wellman and some of her team, including a gentleman from the DPW, were out in both lots last week mapping out where/how to put additional signage.
I’m not sure what’s odd about the kiosk placement..? One is at the entrance to CVS, the most popular destination from the lot. And the other is at the other side, more convenient for folks going to Haven Street and Bunratty, etc. I confess I’m not as up on the specifics of the Gould Street lot, but as with any lot I’ve ever been to with kiosks, they generally put them at either end of a lot so that no one has to walk all the way across. The ones in the upper lot also seem to be in the most logical place in terms of enabling snow plowing.
If there has been some problem with the kiosk functionality, it is reasonable to demand that our vendor be more responsive to any issues if they haven’t been. I know when I tested one on the first day they went live they couldn’t be set for less than 2 hours, but that was fixed by the next day. None of my customers or other folks I’ve spoken with have had any problem since then, but I know you encountered some – have those been fixed since last Friday?
I know you didn’t specifically say that seniors are incompetent. I’m letting you know how seniors are perceiving the way they are being discussed. Again, I know the intentions are good.
Similarly, I believe the suggestion of a “pause” is well-intentioned. Any transition takes time, and my sincere fear with the “pause” idea is that we are setting ourselves up for another period of disruption whenever we reinstate the paid parking. As a business owner, if I made decisions based on only a few weeks worth of data, and only based on the people who complain the loudest – well, I wouldn’t be in business anymore.
If the Select Board decides to implement a pause, it needs to be crystal clear what the terms are, e.g. “We’re pausing the program for 2 weeks which is enough time to work with the kiosk vendor to fix any issues, to put additional signage in the lots, and for the town to communicate again via email, flyers, social media. During this 2 week period, the lots will revert to their 4 hour parking status, which will continue to be enforced. Paid parking will resume on 10/XX/24.” Or whatever the specific timeline is you decide on. It can’t be “Well, let’s see how it goes and we’ll come back together and talk about it at some point in the future.” Ambiguity is the killer, and will keep people crabbing about this, rather than just getting on with it and shopping and dining.
Other business owners who came to me are not going to email you: email to members of the Select Board are public record. That’s one of the reasons they spoke to me instead! I just wanted to make sure you knew that the voices you’ve heard thus far are by no means speaking for all.
The Select Board can help the most by encouraging people to get out there, reminding them that street parking is still free, that the first hour in the lot is free and it is now super easy to find a spot, and that there isn’t a business owner/employee in town who wouldn’t gladly walk outside and help any customer navigate the kiosk.
I appreciate your work on this, and all other SB business. Also happy to chat in person any time! Particularly if you’d like to hear the long, sordid, detailed version of how we got to this place with parking..!
— Liz
