Aldermen meet to debate cuts in city budget
Senior center, Small Business Initiative likely to be casualties of $10-million hole after state declines to provide extra PILOT money
Aldermen and New Haven residents gathered at a marathon hearing Wednesday night to hear and discuss the mayor's newly revised — and $10-million-smaller — city budget.
City Hall grudgingly offered new cuts to the now-$456-million budget after a state aid package that Mayor John DeStefano Jr. and many aldermen had lobbied vigorously for fell through last week. The mayor’s proposed closure of a senior center and relocation of three police substations elicited the greatest response from attendees, while others argued that the current crisis is a symptom of past overspending by the...
Raise Parking fees ? do you mean City owned lots/garages ? i was nailed for $8 at a private lot,but it was unlimited parking,not too bad after all
The city will start ticketing cars parked in residential areas that have not a resident parking decal
Two steps to take immediately to fix the crisis.
Step A: Raise parking fees.
1. Revenue will increase.
2. People will use alternative transportation instead, saving them thousands of dollars per year which can be put towards other uses (like housing or education).
3. The city and state won't have to spend millions of dollars building new parking garages, expenditures that will seem ridiculous when the price of gasoline hits $10 per gallon (which is highly likely within the next 10-24 months).
Step B: Paint bicycle lanes and build bicycle racks throughout the city.
1. Cost is extremely low relative to other infrastructure improvements, and increased real estate values will more than make up for the cost.
2. #2 above will become even more likely.