Update 10/21/21: The city has now installed new signs to update parking restrictions on Union Street in the neighborhood. Now in effect, no parking will be allowed on the North Side of the street during the day on Tuesdays (9-4). Additionally, no parking will be allowed on the South Side of the street during the day on Wednesdays (9-4).
The city made these changes after the police department suddenly issued dozens of tickets to cars parked according to outdated signs last February. A petition with 100+ signatures was sent to the mayor and City Council. Parking had previously been limited to a decades-old confusing nightly alternate side parking that was rarely enforced.
This change will hopefully allow the city to schedule street sweepers during the day on a regular basis. Please remind neighbors of this change!!
UPDATE 3/30/21: The mayor and members of his team met with the Stockade Association to walk through the neighborhood. Parking and ticketing were discussed several times and we await next steps.
UPDATE 3/28/21: Additional tickets were issued on Union Street on the odd side.
UPDATE 3/26/21: See coverage of our parking issues in today’s Daily Gazette. There is still no response from Mayor McCarthy answering our call for a city-wide moratorium on alternate-side parking enforcement. For the record, we have stated this is NOT just about the Stockade. We believe there are similar issues across the city and concerns from residents of other neighborhoods have been raised at City Council meetings.
UPDATE 3/25/21: See coverage of our parking issues in today’s Times Union (thank you to reporter Pete DeMola!).
UPDATE 3/22/21: Two-hour parking signs have been removed. But alternate-side parking signs remain. Fingers crossed they will come down soon.
UPDATE 3/20/21: Additional tickets were issued on Union Street on the odd side.
UPDATE 3/18/21: Additional tickets were issued on Union Street on the odd side. We had a good conversation with Mayor McCarthy tonight. Stay tuned for updates. Fingers crossed he follows through and commits to a moratorium on enforcement or a full removal of the signs.
UPDATE 3/11/21: Additional tickets were issued on Union Street on the odd side. We are VERY far from done with our fight. We are working to collectively re-engage the mayor. Stay tuned for more info.
UPDATE 3/10/21: Additional tickets were issued on Union Street on the even side.
UPDATE 2/27/21: Additional tickets were issued on Union Street on the odd side.
UPDATE 2/24/21: Additional tickets were issued on Union Street on the even side.
UPDATE 2/24/21: During the City Council meeting, Council Member Marion Porterfield again raised the issue as being a problem city-wide of parking “enforcement” with no warning. There was NO response from anyone else on the council, in the meeting, nor the mayor.
UPDATE 2/17/21: Additional tickets were issued on the even side of the upper 200 block of Union Street.
UPDATE 2/12/21: It looks like there were no new tickets issued overnight.
UPDATE 2/11/21: It looks like there were no new tickets issued overnight.
UPDATE 2/10/21: It looks like there were no new tickets issued overnight. We will continue pressure for a permanent fix (signs removed).
Read additional coverage about our parking concerns in today’s Daily Gazette.
UPDATE 2/9/21: Sadly, the tickets continue, despite what our city leaders have said. Share our petition with anyone impacted so we can demonstrate that we want to work together, not be dictated. Our petition has reached over 90 people and growing!
Read coverage about this issue in today’s Daily Gazette
Read coverage about this issue in today’s Times Union
UPDATE 2/8/21: At tonight’s City Council meeting, Neighborhood Association President Suzanne Unger and resident Chris White spoke to the Council and Mayor about these issues. Council Member Marion Porterfield said: “sorry for that major inconvenience.” The mayor then said it was “the police department making a change on its own” and “not in the best or coordinated manner.” We will keep you posted on progress!
Read the letter submitted to the mayor and city council on behalf of the Stockade Association.
UPDATE 2/4/21: A recent parking enforcement effort occurred on Feb. 4, 2021 along Union Street between Erie Boulevard and Washington Avenue in the Stockade neighborhood.
Despite rare, if any, parking enforcement for the better part of 20 years or longer, tickets were issued related to parking in a no standing zone between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. Worse, enforcement was completed without any notice or communication from our police department or city leaders. That is unacceptable.
Help us by signing a petition.
The street is already too crowded to force residents to one side. We demand the City of Schenectady immediately remove alternate side parking restrictions and priority street designation on Union Street between Erie Boulevard and Washington Avenue, and remove all signage from the street regarding alternate side parking and 2-hour parking restrictions.
SOLUTION: With a snow emergency plan and a regular street cleaning plan that are consistently enforced, alternate side parking every day is unnecessary and burdensome to residents.
QUESTION: For the time being, does anyone know what side you can park on and on what days?
ANSWER: Kevin, the signs on either side say which side NOT to park on. But note, the dates are for the early morning hours (1-6AM). That’s why it’s so darn confusing. Tonight (Monday into Tuesday AM), parking is OK on the even numbered house side. Then tomorrow (Tuesday into Wednesday), it would be the odd numbered side. Both weekend mornings are on the even numbered side. Trust me, it’s confusing as hell and we really aim to get this changed.
QUESTION: Some of us in talking also feel they should forgive any tickets issued as well.
ANSWER: Agree. I know a number of neighbors who have or will be pleading not guilty. It remains to be seen what the city will do with the tickets from there.