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Message |
    
fred block
Citizen
Username: Zachary2
Post Number: 41
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 2:21 pm: | 
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Yossarian:
While I enjoy reading your immature comments I must enlighten you somewhat as to this forum.
Where I live or anyone else lives serves no purpose to the postings on this site. The purpose of this topic was to bring to people's attention the changes at the Shop Rite parking lot and my opinion regarding the daily fee. Since that time, the postings have expanded to the overall situation regarding parking in downtown SO.
Today some interesting postings spoke about the vacant lots near the train station. These postings were not started by myself. I merely commented on them.
You may provide your opinions relating to this issue but your last posting serves no purpose other than to waste everyone's time and should be refrained.
I also do not believe that you must be a SO resident to comment on matters that affect all individuals including non-SO residents. |
mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 426
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 2:32 pm: |
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Mark,
Why is parking in the SOPAC lot "not a possibility"? |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 675
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 2:45 pm: |
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There was some pre-construction work done there and the lot would have to be cleared and paved if we are to expect that people would pay. If SOPAC is going to be built this would be an expense that the village cannot afford right now.
If it ever becomes available for parking, I would prefer it to be for shoppers. |
mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 427
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 2:57 pm: |
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I'm not sure I follow.
I have seen dozens of unpaved "vacant lots" in NYC that are used for temporary parking that people gladly pay for. In addition, the Shop Rite lot has severe flooding problems & is not lit very much, yet the Village is able to charge people to park there. I don't see the difference.
For the record, I don't commute into NYC & this has no affect on me personally, other than trying to come up with creative solutions for parking problems that many of my neighbors face, as well as the budget crunch that we all face. |
Yossarian
Citizen
Username: Yossarian
Post Number: 33
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 3:14 pm: |
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fred block --
Think about what you wrote. "Interesting postings ... about ... vacant lots."
Talk about a waste of time.
My postings are not, nor have they ever been, immature. I take these boards seriously and I rely on them for information and advice about the community IN WHICH I LIVE. I give people my opinion and help them make decisions. And they do the same for me.
Together the people who use these boards have accomplished quite a lot. We have made our communities better due to a rational and logical discussion of issues, problems and solutions.
I don't believe for a minute your motives are the same.
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fred block
Citizen
Username: Zachary2
Post Number: 42
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 3:22 pm: |
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Mrosner:
I appreciate your prompt and informative responses. As I recall, NJ Transit was going to build a garage but there was strong opposition to it. Accordingly, even if SO had the funds, residents would likely oppose it. |
fred block
Citizen
Username: Zachary2
Post Number: 43
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 3:32 pm: |
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Yossarian:
I think you may need to re-read the posting attacking my comments on this forum and you will realize that your comments made no logical sense to this topic. Beyond that I will not address anymore of your postings in order for all of us to be spared your idiotic comments.
As an aside, I believe that you have not offered any prior postings on this topic and would be curious if you commute by train. |
Yossarian
Citizen
Username: Yossarian
Post Number: 34
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 3:41 pm: |
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Whatever. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 676
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 3:45 pm: |
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Fred: There are other locations where a deck could be built and probably without opposition.
Mayhewdrive: ok, I will ask the SOPAC board if they want to tear down the fence and sell parking spaces. |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1277
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 3:56 pm: |
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Alfred, don't you live right near the mall? Why don't you park there and take a bus? Does Livingston have a Jitney from the Mall -- PLENTY of parking at the Livingston Mall? If not, why don't you go bugger them for one? |
Dave Ross
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 5405
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 4:02 pm: |
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Let's be nice to Fred. Maybe he patronizes S.O. restaurants & businesses.  |
fred block
Citizen
Username: Zachary2
Post Number: 44
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 4:19 pm: |
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algebra2: See prior postings regarding Jitney service from other towns including Livingston and Florham Park.
Boy, the anger towards non-SO residents is quite vicious. Could it be that these non-SO residents are paying much less in real estate taxes and have better schools?
Mrosner: I was just curious where the proposed garages could be built. It sounded like the NJ Transit Lot would have created the least opposition. |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1278
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 4:34 pm: |
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I wasn't being vicious, just curious. Hey, I have lots of non-maplewood friends who park in Maplewood and even though I am a Maplewood resident I don't have a permit -- I just walk a little further to park my car. So, not vicious, just curious. |
mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 430
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 4:43 pm: |
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Mark,
Tell the SOPAC board to not look at it as "selling parking spaces"...look at it as "advance subscriptions to SOPAC". 
how far in "advance" is still TBD |
Dave Ross
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 5406
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 4:44 pm: |
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After all, you are Flanders. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 677
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003 - 4:46 pm: |
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Fred: The third street lot by the rescue squad is my first choice.
I think the anger towards you is your attitude that S. Orange needs to increase parking for non-residents.
The fact that we pay more in taxes has to do with our small commercial tax base as opposed to Livingston that has a mall and county club that generate an enormous amount of income to the town without putting any pressure on the schools.
I am not sure the schools are any better or worse. I know plenty of people who are very happy with the schools in S. Orange/Maplewood and I have friends who have kids in the Livingston schools who complain bitterly about it. My daughter went through the schools here and I was more than satisfied with her education and she is now in law school.
You also choose not to answer any questions. Again, have you asked your town council about getting their own jitney? I would think you would be all over them about trying to get one in service. It would mean a small increase in your taxes but think of the convenience and not having to worry about finding a parking space.
Since your taxes are so low, you should be able to afford the five bucks a day to park in the Shop-Rite lot without complaint.
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fred block
Citizen
Username: Zachary2
Post Number: 45
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 8:52 am: |
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algebra2:
Your postings were not the ones I was speaking about so I am sorry that you got the impression that your postings were vicious.
Mrosner:
Maybe you need to re-read my postings. I at no time sought to dictate that SO provide for more parking for non-SO commuters. In fact, my postings were addressed to all commuters including SO. I believe that you would agree that parking is tight even for SO residents at the train station. I was only attempting to raise an issue regarding the fees charged at the Shop Rite lot.
Your argument regarding a small commercial tax base is without merit. Please look at the lower taxes paid by North Caldwell (no commercial tax basis) and Glen Ridge. Also, look at Alpine and Saddle River. I also will not address your point about schools since that is not the topic of discussion and should be placed somewhere else.
I also heard today that there was no charge for parking in the Shop Rite lot today. Why? Doesn't it make sense that since other commuters are paying for the other lots that SO charge for the use of the Shop Rite lot. Please explain. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 678
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 10:00 am: |
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Fred: You raised the issues about schools and did so by making a negative insinuation. I think our schools are good.
Glen Ridge has higher taxes than every town in the state. Check our Roseland, Milburn and other towns that have a SIGNIFICANTLY larger commercial rate base.
Does Alpine have a school system?
Today is a holiday and village hall is closed. The parking authority follows the same holiday schedule as the village. NJ Transit does not.
You have questioned the parking and the fees as if S. Orange is supposed to provide all the answers for non-residents. You try to disguise your comments by saying you have the best interests at heart for the residents. Clearly (and I just reread most of your posts) you have a problem paying for parking. Also, you refuse to answer questions that myself and others have asked.
One more time Fred, have you asked your town council to consider jitney service for their residents. The assumption is that you live in Livingston (you have never said, have you?). They do have buses to NYC and you could park by the Turtle back Zoo and take an express bus, couldn't you. Or call NJ Transit and ask them to provide more parking spaces at their stations ( and do so in other towns) for non-resident commuters.
However you choose to come to S. Orange to take a train. Pay the five bucks a day till you get your NJ Transit permit and stop complaining already. After all your property taxes are significantly lower so the parking fee should not bother you.
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Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 64
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 10:20 am: |
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I know! Build a huge parking deck in downtown Livingston and have jitneys to the train--oops I forgot. Livingston doesn't have a downtown. |
fred block
Citizen
Username: Zachary2
Post Number: 46
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 10:37 am: |
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Mrosner:
I think we agree to disagree as to taxes. I think that you will find towns that have less commercial base than SO that have higher or lower taxes. The tax issue is both local, county and state-related.
Thank you about the information regarding the holiday schedule today.
My problem was not with paying for parking but the amount to be paid for parking. Obviously, SO has continued to keep its fee at $5 and that is their choice. I just wanted to have this amount the subject of a debate with the hope that SO would reconsider its fee. At this time, I (and others) have not been successful in reducing the fee.
Lizziecat:
From what I hear Livingston is planning to build a towncenter. Let's see which is built first the towncenter or the redevelopment of the Shop-Rite site. |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 3579
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 10:50 am: |
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Taxes, commercial rateables and lot size figure in the equation along with county and school taxes. SO and MW have small lots, meaning more houses, more people and more students in the schools. The result is higher taxes than in a town with one acre zoning. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 680
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 11:12 am: |
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Fred: The first plans for rebuilding the Livingston town center were submitted over 10 years ago. Not fair to have a race when they have such a large head start. If you think I am wrong, check the local papers' archives and you will find it. They have made some modifications and some changes but Livingston is not about to win any kind of records for speed (not that S. Orange will).
As for property taxes, for the most part (so glad you could find one exception) towns with a larger commercial base have lower property taxes than ones that do not have that advantage. A second major factor is SHU. We have to provide Police and Fire protection for 37 acres and an average daily population at the school that is close to 10,000 without getting one dime from them. Since the tax exemption is state mandated, one would think that citizens like you would go to the state and say we think the State should help towns with colleges/university's by paying into a fund. I can put you in touch with our representatives.
The $5.00 / day is working just fine so far. |
fred block
Citizen
Username: Zachary2
Post Number: 47
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 11:40 am: |
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Mrosner:
My point is that some towns that have little or no commercial base do have lower taxes. The lower taxes may be explained by the larger size lots raised by "Bobk" (i.e. North Caldwell, Alpine, Saddle River).
Your point regarding SHU is a surprise to me. Is that true for all unversities throughout the state? How do other states handle such a situation? I could understand if the university was public, but SHU is private and should pay some fees towards SO. Please provide the contact information for our representative and I will be happy to send an e-mail office to their office.
I did not know that the Livingston Town Center has been in the works for 10 years. But I do know that the area to be redeveloped was not vacant for all this time. Other than the fire to the movie theater, all the stores remained open until just this past year.
Are meter spots free on a holiday, such as today? If yes, then I suppose you should consider my $3 payment a donation to the general SO treasury. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 681
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 12:03 pm: |
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Livingston has long had a problem with empty stores. Because they do not have a true downtown, the problem is well spread out and not that noticeable.
Other towns that have a college/university tend to be larger, but several do have similar problems and concerns (Madison and Montclair both have made their complaints public too).
I will have the contacts emailed to you.
Thanks for the donation.
Mark |
mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 460
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 29, 2003 - 8:25 pm: |
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Mark,
Was the issue of removing the silly white fence surrounding some prime parking spots raised to the SOPAC board? |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 722
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2003 - 9:54 am: |
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Mhd: It was not raised as far as I know. I resigned from the SOPAC board two months ago so I was not at the last meeting.
I will ask SOPAC to give an official update on the project. |
mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 461
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2003 - 9:56 am: |
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Thank you |
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