Politics & Government

Mayor Responds to Criticism for His Handling of Parking Issues

J. Brooke Hern speaks out after Borough Council votes to ask the mayor to stay out of negotiations regarding the future of downtown parking.

Mayor J. Brooke Hern was not present at a special Wednesday meeting when the Borough Council unanimously passed a resolution naming Bob Robinson and Gary Kapner as the body's representatives in dealing with "downtown shopping issues" including parking—and asking Hern to stop negotiating on the parking matter. On Thursday, the mayor released a response to the council's criticisms. It follows, unedited, in its entirety.

I agree with the Borough Council's call to have all stakeholders and government officials involved in reaching a global solution to parking problems in downtown New Providence. 

Contrary to recent accusations, I have endeavored to include members of the Council in discussions, and I have always kept the Council fully informed about every discussion I've had with members of the business community regarding the Village Shopping Center.  Moreover, I have never negotiated any deal with anyone.  Rather, I've worked to facilitate discussions among businesses and property owners, so that they can negotiate a resolution among themselves and arrive at a private solution.  

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To the extent that I have begun the process of arriving at a global solution, as I previously wrote to the Council, I've done nothing more than foster understanding, cooperation and discussions among businesses and property owners, and then report back to the Council to ensure that members are included every step of the way.  There is simply no truth to any accusation to the contrary.  Notably, the Council President has failed to provide the public with any specific details regarding his ambiguous accusations, and that's because there is absolutely no truth to his fictional account of my actions.

The role of our local government should be to bring private property owners together, so that they might resolve their differences with a resolution that benefits all of New Providence.  And that has been the extent of my involvement.  

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Together, the Mayor and Council should also keep an eye out for opportunities to take appropriate action that may help things along.  For example, I believe there is a potential immediate step that should be given serious consideration by the Borough Council.  

Within the larger problem of shared parking lies an issue concerning Feather's and Avenue Deli, whose customers typically park in the lot owned by the Village Shopping Center and enter through back doors of these Springfield Avenue buildings. 

As customers walk from the Village Shopping Center parking lot to the back doors of Feathers and Avenue Deli, they traverse a small parcel of land that is owned by the Borough of New Providence.  It seems prudent for the Borough Council to evaluate the possibility of converting that small parcel of land into a municipal parking lot, which I'm told by Borough officials could be used to provide as many as eight parking spaces.  

Of course, in considering such a possibility, the Mayor and Council should work closely with the business and property owners to determine whether it would beneficial to use the Borough's property to add parking spaces.  Such a simple act could do wonders in alleviating tensions and, at the same time, add much needed parking to our downtown.


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