We’ve gone from giddy optimism to the depths of despair when the NYC Transportation Department’s Resident Permit Parking Program (“RPP”) died with Mayor Bloomberg’s Congestion Pricing Program (“CPP”). Unfortunately, the Mayor’s proposed legislation, approved by a narrow majority of the City Council, linked RPP to CPP. We were not to have one without the other.

We thank our Council member David Yassky who showed courage and foresight by voting in favor of CPP and RPP. But -- how to say this politely -- we deeply regret that the leadership in Albany lacked the wisdom to follow the Council’s lead. In fact, Albany took no action; thereby allowing the City's chance to receive $300 million in badly needed federal transportation funds to die by the wayside. Nor did they propose any alternatives to the transit shortfall and increasing congestion in the city. Shame on them.

What to do next? The BHA is part of a large constituency of Brooklyn neighborhood groups who supported both CPP and RPP. Together, we’ll mount a new initiative, building on the innovative thinking that began last spring at the NYC DOT under the leadership of Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and her team in the DOT’s Office of Planning and Sustainability. Should we need to draw upon every member to write a letter, we hope you’ll respond in force. The parking shortage in Brooklyn Heights is now intolerable, and with the conversion of the Hotel Bossert and former Standish Arms, it will get worse. This is no time to give up, but to forge on.