Jersey City Parking Authority news

[MCA™]

Great story; go read the whole thing.


CASID President, Calling Jersey City Parking Authority a ‘Political Dumping Ground,’ Offers to Run it for $1 a Year
By Matt Hunger • Aug 30th, 2011

Central Avenue Special Improvement District (CASID) president Michael Yun, who has held the position for 19 years, says that it hasn’t been by accident that the group has kept him in charge.

“There hasn’t been an increase to the tax in the [Special Interest District] in the time since I’ve been president,” he says, referring to the special extra assessment businesses within the district pay to keep the SID running. “I know how and when to spend taxpayers’ money. I know how to best serve the taxpayer.”

That, he says, is a stark contrast to those who run the Jersey City Parking Authority, which he calls a “political dumping ground” with “no parking plan for the city.” That’s why he wants the top job at the autonomous city agency, and has agreed to take a meager salary of just $1 a year to do so — more than $115,000 a year less than the authority’s current leader.

“There needs to be a culture change at the Parking Authority,” he tells JCI. “It shouldn’t just function as a tax collector for Jersey City.” (more)

[duke_of_earl]

Her suit also contends that she was harassed "by having to watch Fernando Picariello harass others."

I feel harassed by having to read about her watching others get harassed.

duke

[garyg]

My poor wife had to go to the JCPA this afternoon to get visitor permits.  I suggested she call before hand, and the lady who answered was rude and ignorant of the costs and how to pay for the permits.  I wonder if she was distracted due to the unwanted sexual advances of her superiors?

[MCA™]

Two women - a current staffer and a former staffer - file suit against Jersey City Parking Authority claiming sexual harassment; both name two employees that were targets of another woman's earlier suit
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
By RHEA MAHBUBANI
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The Jersey City Parking Authority is being sued yet again.

Yolanda Miranda, a former JCPA employee, and Rosalie Laureano, a current employee, filed sexual harassment lawsuits against the city agency last month in Hudson County Superior Court.

Both Miranda, 47, and Laureano, 40, former colleagues in JCPA's Operations Department, claim in their separate lawsuits that they were sexually harassed and suffered retaliation in connection with a lawsuit filed by another former JCPA employee.

Nancy Lopez, 41, and the JCPA reached a $300,000 settlement after she accused Director of Enforcement Fernando Picariello and enforcement officer Raymond Manzo of inappropriate sexual advances.

Miranda and Laureano, both considered potential witnesses if the Lopez case had gone to trial, make similar claims against Picariello and Manzo in their lawsuits.

Miranda, who was fired by the agency in May 2009, claims in her lawsuit that Manzo touched her breasts and buttocks, attempted to assault her in her home, and even suggested that the baby she gave birth to should have been his.

Her suit also contends that she was harassed "by having to watch Fernando Picariello harass others."

There is no indication in the lawsuit that a criminal complaint was filed in connection with the assault allegation.

Laureano said in her lawsuit that when she told Picariello that she told managers at the JCPA who interviewed her about the Lopez case that he wasn't "easy to get along with," Picariello changed her schedule to deprive her of income and engaged in "physical and verbal coercion, threats and intimidation, and micro-managing."

Picariello and Manzo also made references to Laureano's buttocks and suggested in her presence that they would like to have sex with her, according to the lawsuit.

Picariello was hired by the agency in March 1997 and earns $65,563 annually, according to city records. Manzo was hired in December 1997 and is paid 51,474 a year.

The attorney for both Miranda and Laureano, who also represented Lopez, said he finds it hard to believe that these JCPA employees have not been "actively deterred" from the actions alleged in the lawsuits.

The plaintiff's attorney, Kevin Costello of Cherry Hill-based Costello and Mains, said he plans to push "if not for termination" of Manzo and Picariello, at least for them to be "severely disciplined."

Mary Paretti, chief executive officer of the Parking Authority, said she wouldn't comment until the lawsuits were served. Picariello and Manzo did not respond to several phone calls for comment.

[MCA™]

Jersey City City Council tables city's plan to rent 95 parking spaces for $7,125 per month
Published: Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 7:29 PM     Updated: Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 7:32 PM
Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal

The Jersey City City Council tonight postponed approval of the city's plan to rent 95 parking spaces from the Jersey City Parking Authority at a cost of $7,125 per month. The spaces, along Christopher Columbus Drive, were intended for city employees who work at offices the city rents Downtown at 30 Montgomery St.

The ordinance, which was introduced unanimously two weeks ago, was tabled after Councilman Steven Fulop questioned why the city was paying JCPA for parking spaces located on city streets.

"The city owns the parking spots.  They own the city streets," Fulop said tonight. "You're transferring $80,000 for nothing, that's really what you're doing here."

The city would have rented the 95 spots for 10 months, with the option to end the contract at any time, at a total cost of $71,125.

Business Administrator Jack Kelly said he would have to research the city's contract with the Parking Authority to determine whether the city owns the spots or whether it transferred ownership of them to the JCPA.

Several residents who spoke out tonight against the proposal said that the city should encourage its employees who work on Montgomery Street to utilize public transportation.

The city should not lay off workers and simultaneously pay for parking spaces, said John Seborowski.

"What's more important to people: paid parking spaces or jobs?" Seborowski said.

The list of employees that would have used the parking spaces include attorneys for the Planning and Zoning boards, 34 inspectors who are in the field daily and city Chief of Staff Rosemary McFadden.

After tabling the ordinance, Council President Peter Brennan asked that Kelly return to the council with a reason why the city should have to pay for the spaces.

[MCA™]

Lawsuit that sought $1 million over the firing of former head of the Jersey City Parking Authority is settled for $82,500
Thursday, February 24, 2011
By TERRENCE T. McDONALD
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The former head of the Jersey City Parking Authority, who sued city officials for $1 million after he was fired in 2009, has settled with city agencies to the tune of $82,500.

Mark D. Russ, the JCPA's executive director from December 2006 until he was terminated in March 2009, claimed in the 2009 lawsuit that he was let go because he refused to stop issuing tickets in order to help Mayor Jerramiah Healy's re-election bid that year.

Russ sued the city, Healy, the JCPA, and JCPA chairman Michael Holloway.

This week, JCPA commissioners approved the $82,500 settlement with Russ "for the physical manifestation of emotional distress damage," with $72,500 coming from the agency's insurance carrier and an additional $10,000 coming from the city.

JCPA Executive Director Mary Paretti said her agency's decision to settle was based on the recommendation of its insurance company.

"We're not happy making any type of settlement. Sometimes things are out of our control," Paretti said.

According to the suit, Healy, wanting to "curry favor with citizen voters," told Russ to order all parking enforcement personnel to stop giving out tickets after 6 p.m. When Russ refused, the mayor had him fired from the autonomous agency, according to the lawsuit.

Healy and the JCPA officials denied the charges.

The matter was brought to a mediator last November, and the parties reached an amicable accord, according to the 13-page settlement agreement.

The agreement stipulates that neither side concedes the merits or claims of the other side's claims.

[propscene]

Agree, duke.

[duke_of_earl]

The agreement between Lopez and the JCPA, which was made official in September, states that the financial settlement is not an admission of any accusations of harassment in the lawsuit. The settlement does not call for any sort of discipline or punishment for those accused in the lawsuit of sexually harassing Lopez.

JCPA Chief Executive Officer Mary Paretti, who took over in April 2009, said that all employees underwent sensitivity training when the JCPA became aware of the lawsuit. She would not say if anyone was disciplined, but she confirmed that all who were named in the lawsuit were still in the same positions with the JCPA.

"I can't discuss discipline or personnel matters," Paretti said. She stressed that the settlement was paid by the JCPA's insurance carrier, and not by Jersey City taxpayers.

The appropriate discipline here is termination of the involved employees, not a settlement with sensitivity training.  By the way, Ms. Paretti, who pays JCPA's insurance carrier and did the rates just go up?

duke

[MCA™]

Harassment suit settled: Ex-Parking Authority clerk gets $300,000
Monday, January 10, 2011
By RON ZEITLINGER
DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR

A former Jersey City Parking Authority clerk has received $300,000 in a settlement of a lawsuit in which she said she was repeatedly sexually harassed by at least three staff members, including a director and the assistant CEO.

Nancy Lopez, 41, of Parlin, had claimed in a lawsuit that Director of Enforcement Fernando Picariello harassed her by repeated inappropriate touching, sexual advances, touching her buttocks and legs and suggesting that she had "nice boobs," among other things.

In the lawsuit, Lopez said the harassment went on for roughly 18 months, from 2006 until the end of 2007.

The lawsuit also claimed that Picariello "inspired and/or ratified the harassment" of Lopez "by others, specifically Raymond Manzo and David Lerner." Lerner is the assistant chief executive officer and Manzo is an enforcement officer.

Furthermore, when Lopez reported the harassment to JCPA Chairman Michael Holloway, he declined to act on it, according to the lawsuit. Last week, Holloway said "that's not true" that Lopez told him about the alleged sexual harassment. "I can't help that people make allegations," Holloway said. "There are two sides of the story."

Lopez could not be reached for comment and Picariello and Lerner did not return calls for comment.

The agreement between Lopez and the JCPA, which was made official in September, states that the financial settlement is not an admission of any accusations of harassment in the lawsuit. The settlement does not call for any sort of discipline or punishment for those accused in the lawsuit of sexually harassing Lopez.

JCPA Chief Executive Officer Mary Paretti, who took over in April 2009, said that all employees underwent sensitivity training when the JCPA became aware of the lawsuit. She would not say if anyone was disciplined, but she confirmed that all who were named in the lawsuit were still in the same positions with the JCPA.

"I can't discuss discipline or personnel matters," Paretti said. She stressed that the settlement was paid by the JCPA's insurance carrier, and not by Jersey City taxpayers.

Lopez worked for the Parking Authority 14 years before she resigned on July 1 last year as part of the settlement. Lopez was represented by attorney Kevin M. Costello of Cherry Hill.

[jcgov]

The Jersey City Parking Authority will be allowing free two hour parking in all municipal lots from December 1, 2010 through January 2, 2011.

Regular ticketing of cars in metered spots will resume January 3, 2011.

Read list of Municipal Parking Lots here.

[Binky]

I find it interesting that these parking spaces with as many as 19 handicapped placards at a time are right by 30 Montgomery.  And wouldn't you think legitimate handicapped drivers would just pay for the two hours rather than park somewhere less convenient?  Makes my suspicious mind think many of those placards weren't legit.

[PuddinPop]

Gee, so sorry to hear MCA

...and Parking Authority is cracking down on misuse of handicapped placards
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
By MELISSA HAYES
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

[MCA™]

Jersey City's parking meters now taking 75 cents an hour, and Parking Authority is cracking down on misuse of handicapped placards
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
By MELISSA HAYES
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The cost to park at a meter in Jersey City has jumped by 25 cents an hour. The Jersey City Parking Authority increased its rate from 50 to 75 cents per hour last month. The agency said it's the first rate hike in 15 to 20 years.

Parking Authority Director Mary Paretti said the increase will provide the agency with additional funds for meter maintenance and hopefully deter people from feeding meters all day.

She said several businesses have complained that cars are staying parked outside all day, cutting off use by patrons. "We've been getting complaints about parking and just surveying the area. You do have people who park all day, so if you raise the fee a quarter an hour, some of the people will get out of the spaces," she said.

The increase has gone into effect everywhere but Central Avenue, where there are multi-pay stations. The Parking Authority is waiting for representatives from the software company who are traveling from the United Kingdom to make the upgrades.

She said those meters are also being upgraded so that instead of entering a space number, patrons will get a receipt to display in their car windows. Paretti said it will be clearer for people parking their cars and enforcement agents who issue tickets when the payment expires.

The agency has also cracked down on people misusing handicapped parking privileges. Paretti said state law allows handicapped drivers to pay the maximum two hours in a meter and then leave the car parked all day. She said in some cases no money was being put into the meters and the person wasn't handicapped, but using someone else's placard.

She said on Montgomery Street between Greene and Warren streets there were as many as 19 cars with handicapped placards. So the Parking Authority put out notices that it would be enforcing the law and now checks between 9 and 11 a.m. to make sure people are paying before leaving the cars all day.

After several tickets were issued, Paretti said now only three to four handicapped placards are on cars on that street. "We're trying to preserve the spaces for people who truly are handicapped," she said.

[super_furry]

Jersey City Parking Authority taking break from ticketing
By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal
December 29, 2009, 11:47AM

Parking-meter-Jersey-City.JPGMARTIN CEPERLEY/ THE JERSEY JOURNALThe Jersey City Parking Authority is giving motorists a two-hour grace period at parking meters this week and isn't issuing tickets on street cleaning routes.

If the parking meter runs out or you forget to move your car for street cleaning in Jersey City this week, you won’t find a ticket on your windshield.

There is a two hour grace period on meters and instead of issuing tickets on street cleaning routes the Jersey City Parking Authority is placing Happy Holiday greetings on vehicles.

“We extend the courtesy to residents and shoppers between Christmas and New Years in an attempt to make their last minute running around a bit easier,” said Mary Spinello-Paretti, director of the Parking Authority.

But beware. Regular enforcement of meters and street sweeping will start again on Jan. 4.

In addition, the Parking Authority will still be issuing tickets in permit parking areas and booting is still in effect.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2009/12/jersey_city_parking_authority_3.html

[MCA™]

Check out the Independent's write-up for a more thorough summary of the fireworks at this meeting: Council Report: Buying the Parking Authority Building, T&M’s Contract is Cleared and More. Meanwhile, today's JJ opines on the deal:


Editorial: Building vote proves council is inept
By The Jersey Journal
November 30, 2009, 12:01AM

How much more evidence is needed to show that the people of Jersey City are being ill-served by those members of the City Council whose strings are being pulled by a City Hall administration that cares little for the taxpayer or well-being of its citizens. This is either an intellectually deficient or a sinister bunch in power.

The latest exhibit for the court of public opinion came last week, when the council approved bonding that would allow the city Parking Authority to buy the building that the agency has been renting at 392-394 Central Ave.

The purchase price was a highly questionable, $4.2 million in a down real estate market. Actions of these of elected officials in providing the agency with a go-ahead to buy this building is tantamount to malfeasance.

These self-appointed masters of investment and property acquisition refused to pay the $500 or so for a new appraisal of the building. Instead, they were content to rely on a year 2000 appraisal when the real estate market was booming. Their ineptitude was so blatant that it is easy to suggest their actions may have been planned.

Among those who approved the funding was Councilwoman Nidia Lopez, who has some trouble filing New Jersey tax returns. Another was Councilman Mariano Vega, who has so badly botched his campaign filings with state ELEC that it is difficult to accurately determine who donated to his war chest in May's municipal race. These are people who should not be making decisions with taxpayers' money.

The ordinance was introduced with a 5-4 vote but bond ordinances need six votes for approval on the second reading. Conveniently, it was Vega -- who once frighteningly chaired the city Tax Enhancement Committee -- changed his vote to yes. The councilman, who faces federal corruption charges and refuses to step down claiming he did nothing wrong, said he was convinced by supporters that this was a good deal for the city. He made this explanation with a straight face.

Downtown Councilman Steve Fulop, Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson and Councilwoman at large Willie Flood did the right thing by voting against the bond ordinance. Fulop argued for the new appraisal and noted that one of the property owners contributed to the Team (Mayor Jerramiah) Healy slate in this year's election.
Perhaps a review of past real estate deals approved by this City Council is a necessity. This city government cannot be trusted.

[MCA™]

Council backs JCPA on building buy
Friday, November 27, 2009
By MELISSA HAYES
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The Jersey City Parking Authority has gotten a green light to purchase the building it rents on Central Avenue.

The City Council narrowly approved a $4.6 million bond ordinance Tuesday night. While the Parking Authority plans to purchase the building at 392-394 Central Ave. for $4.2 million, it needed the city to guarantee the bond.

The ordinance was tabled during the Nov. 11 council meeting after Ward E Councilman Steve Fulop raised questions about the appraisal price.

The council removed it from the tabled list in a 5-4 vote and City Clerk Robert Byrne reminded the body that bond ordinances need six votes to pass.

Councilman at large Mariano Vega, who voted against removing it from the tabled list, voted yes, saying he was swayed by supporters' arguments.

Fulop, Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson and Councilwoman at large Willie Flood voted against the bond ordinance. Fulop argued the city's appraisal value of the property was outdated and that one of the property owners contributed to the Team Healy slate in this year's election.

The property is owned by Hudson Central Building, LLC. The managing members listed on the lease are Seung Kyom Kim and Mateo Padovano.

According to state Election Law Enforcement Commission reports, Padovano donated $2,000 to Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy's 2009 campaign and $500 to Team Jersey City, the 2009 campaign fund of Richardson and Ward A Councilman Michael Sottolano.

Three members of the public also asked the council to get a new appraisal.

"Only our city is willing to pay the highest rate ever," said resident Phil Rivo, a real estate agent. "Let's do our due diligence."

The Parking Authority currently pays the owners about $225,000 annually in rent. The U.S. Postal Service also rents space on the first floor for about $177,000.

"I think it's a prudent thing to do at this particular time," Sottolano said about purchasing the building. "I think it's a value to the city. I also think it's something that's going to save us money in the long run."

[jc_insomniac]

Class action lawsuit?

If Bonilla did write more fake tickets for real cars, the car owners won't know until they receive a failure to appear notice from court - which won't be sent until more than a month after the fake ticket was issued, Eason said.

A statement from the city said that any such tickets will be administratively reviewed and dismissed.
[/size]

© 2007  The Jersey Journal

[MCA™]

The full story:


DREAMED UP TICKET HELL

Tuesday, August 21, 2007
By N. CLARK JUDD
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A Jersey City parking enforcement officer was towed out of the agency's headquarters in handcuffs after cops say he wrote at least 100 fake tickets.

Luis Bonilla, 30, of Brunswick Street, was charged Wednesday with second-degree charges of official misconduct, police said.

Cops believe he made up at least 100 tickets over a one-month period, at least one of which was for a license plate number that actually existed. Bonilla, who has been a parking enforcement officer for just under two years, wrote the tickets to cover for not writing real tickets during his shift, police said.

"The allegation is that when he was supposedly writing tickets, he was involved in personal activities," said Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio.

DeFazio said police were watching Bonilla at the times listed on tickets he wrote, and their surveillance suggests that he was doing anything but reading meters. DeFazio declined to go into detail, but did say that his alleged "personal activities" were not criminal.

City spokesman Stan H. Eason said that the two-week investigation began after Parking Authority officials noticed Bonilla was writing a large number of tickets that looked suspicious.

"The peculiarities of the vehicle descriptions were not even matching the license plate numbers, and were not even matching the jurisdictions," Eason said.

Eason later added that Bonilla did appear to write some real tickets as well. He is suspended from the Parking Authority.

If Bonilla did write more fake tickets for real cars, the car owners won't know until they receive a failure to appear notice from court - which won't be sent until more than a month after the fake ticket was issued, Eason said.

A statement from the city said that any such tickets will be administratively reviewed and dismissed.

DeFazio said last week that Bonilla has been released on bail pending a grand jury hearing. An official at Central Judicial Processing said yesterday that Bonilla is set to appear in mid-September.

© 2007  The Jersey Journal

[glx]

'Fake' tickets mean cuffs for parking authority worker
by N. Clark Judd
Monday August 20, 2007, 6:11 PM

A Jersey City parking enforcement officer was towed out of the agency's headquarters in handcuffs after cops say he wrote at least 100 fake tickets.

Luis Bonilla, 30, of Brunswick Street, has been charged with second-degree charges of official misconduct, police said.Cops believe he made up at least 100 tickets over a one-month period, at least one of which was for a license plate number that actually existed.

Bonilla, who has been a parking enforcement officer for just under two years, wrote the tickets to cover for not writing real tickets during his shift, police said.

"The allegation is that when he was supposedly writing tickets, he was involved in personal activities," said Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio.

Get the full story in tomorrow's Jersey Journal.

• Tweet