Local Businesses Not Worried About Residential Parking Permits

Is parking a problem in Brooklyn?

Many residents say yes, especially in light of the soon-to-open Barclays Center at Atlantic Yards, and state legislators agree. Assemblywoman Joan L. Millman and State Senator Daniel Squadron . The bill , and now it is up to Albany to decide if RPP is viable. 

It is easy to see why residents might support RPP, but what about businesses?

We talked to a handful of business owners, and nearly all voiced solid support for permit parking. If RPP goes into affect, the details will need to be worked out, but business strips with metered parking such as Atlantic Avenue and Smith and Court streets will remain as they are. Side streets are what would potentially become permit parking only.

Kerry Diamond, co-owner of and and a Carroll Gardens resident, said she and co-owner Rob Newton support the proposal.

"We're not opposed to residential parking permits," she said.

But they also believe investment in public transportation to be more important.

"We wish Albany would spend its time focusing on better public transportation," she said. "Parking permits won't help or hurt our business."

"What does hurt our business in Carroll Gardens is service interruptions and inconsistent service on the F line," she added.

Gaia DiLoreto, owner of , said she also supported RPP, but wished the focus would shift away cars.

"At the end of the day, I wish people wouldn't drive," she said. "Why are we supporting driving?"

Another store owner who asked to remain nameless for fear of offending his customers, said he was conflicted.

"I'm for it and against it," he said. "I live here, so it would be great, but I don't want to take from anyone's pocket."

52nd Democratic District Leader Jo Anne Simon has been a vocal proponent of RPP for many years. She says RPP "is not a ban."

"RPP programs have been successfully used around the world and in large urban centers in the US. It will not make it harder for shoppers to shop or delivery persons to deliver or tradespeople to ply their trades," she said. 

In fact, she added, commuters from further out in the borough or even Long Island potentially take away from business.

"Parking is pretty difficult now in large part because of commuter parkers who don’t move their cars all day," she said. "RPP will give businesses and customers a greater likelihood of finding parking. Businesses will find they embrace these protections."

Although some reports say residential permit parking is not likely to pass in Albany, there is still local optimism.

And with thousands of people flooding the area this fall for games at the Barclays Center, the time is now to address how to deal with the influx.