Brighton Municipal Parking Lot To Nearly Double Fees

The city is raising the parking permit rates at the Brighton Beach Municipal Parking Field from $330 to $550 per quarter – a striking $220 price hike that has residents up in arms.

The increase at the lot – at Brightwater Court and Brighton 2nd Street – will take effect in October, and be accompanies by a hike in metered rates to a quarter for every 10 minutes.

The Daily News reports on the reaction:

Pat Singer, president of the Brighton Beach Neighbors Association, said her office has received a flood of phone calls from angry residents complaining about the hike for the Brightwater Court lot.

“They’re doing it on the backs of people that are struggling, and that’s tough,” said Singer, who added that on-street parking has become a big problem in the neighborhood. “They have no alternative to put their cars anywhere else.”

Angry drivers said they got flyers last week about the rate increase, and some are now thinking about circling local blocks in search of parking instead of paying the hike.

… Richard Tomback, 69, a history professor at Kingsborough Community College, said he has kept a spot in the parking lot for the last 15 years, but now plans to give it up.

“It’s a complete lack of respect [for] citizens of Brighton Beach,” he said. “I’ll have to walk 10 or 15 blocks after parking on the street. It’s an inconsideration by the city.”