Stamford BOR Defeats Beach Parking Permit Increase

Despite an easy passage between Stamford's Parks and Recreation Committee and the Board of Representatives, the BOR defeated a $10 by majority vote on Monday evening at the .

"That $10 increase does impact a certain population in town, and quite frankly, they don't have any real, paid entertainment. For them, it's the beach, and the fact that they have to pay $10 more...they shouldn't bear the burden of this increase," Parks and Recreation Committee chair Patrick White told Patch.

Patrick White, in opposition to the beach parking increase from the start, suffered a setback several weeks ago when the increase application was vote-approved by his own committee. At the time, Patrick was one of two who voted against the application, which was submitted by Director of Operations Ernie Orgera earlier this year.

However, the application did not fare as well before the Board of Representatives. Before the application was voted on,  several members expressed feelings about the application that were similar to White's: while an increase to beach parking permit fees was beneficial to the city, it wasn't beneficial to beach-going residents. 

"It would be a real shame if a family could not go to the beach because they couldn't afford the extra $10," board member John Zelinsky said. "I think it could really discourage people from going to the beach."

As far as Stamford residents themselves, some were willing to pay, and some were not.

"It's outrageous," said Hilda, a resident who lives near the Cove. "Everything is off the roof, we pay enough taxes here already."

"It's too much money, especially for senior citizens...I pay a lot of taxes. This month, I cleaned myself out in taxes. I won't pay $30. I'll walk, because I live close," said Sophia Harasiuk, another Cove resident.

Others were willing to pay, but only if the revenue was being on something that they cared about.

"I'd like to see some money go into senior citizens," Stamford resident Sal Machio said.

According to Orgera, if the application had been approved, it would have generated an extra $183,000 in revenue, which would have prevented the city's parking budget from going into a deficit. The BOR voted the application down with 10 in favor of it and 23 against.

"I've always thought that if people pay taxes, they should get the 'darn sticker' for free," Zelinsky said.