Paterson needs to replace antiquated parking meters, Teague
By Corey Teague
Published: April 3, 2016
I visited the City of Newark, NJ today to film a rally held by the local teachers union. I noticed the parking meters and how different they were from Paterson’s.
Newark’s parking meters are fully equipped with multiple payment options. They print receipts. I witnessed someone using it. They didn’t have to walk around with a $1 in hand asking for 4 quarters.
The machine takes dollar bills as well. In Paterson, we have an issue with taxes. Due to the lack of revenue streams the taxpayers are forced, year after year, to pay more in taxes to make up the difference.
I wonder how much revenue is being generated with those quarter-gulping machines? How much of it is actually being accounted for? I think it’s time to upgrade those machines.
Maybe if we knew exactly how much money our antiquated parking meters generated on a yearly basis, then maybe those funds could be used to offset the taxes and possibly get the taxpayers off the guillotine.
Corey L. Teague
Activist and former school board member