By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The City of Buffalo will eliminate free parking at metered spaces for those with disabled tags. By a slim margin, Buffalo Common Council members approved the parking change at Tuesday's session.
In an 8 to 5 vote, lawmakers approved a plan to change free parking rules for the disabled in Buffalo. Supporters of the resolution say too many able-bodied people are abusing the system. Motorists park for free at metered spaces, with a disabled tag for the entire day. Lovejoy District Council Member Richard Fontana says the area's disabled also filed complaints that they can not find metered parking spaces in the city.
"The Mayor's advisory board for handicapped people and other handicapped people throughout city and county came to us saying there is a problem," Fontana said. "They cannot find any spaces at any meters. Those spaces are clogged up with people parking there all day with parking passes, for free."
Council Member at Large Charlie Fisher voted against the parking rule. He says it is unfortunate that the city does not have the resources to monitor the abuses.
"It's too bad we can't scrutinize and monitor these abusers that come into the city with shameless disregard," Fisher said. "One man was caught coming into the city every day, parking with a tag and walking into work as the picture of health. That should be a parking space for a disabled citizen."
The Common Council says the new rule won't go into effect immediately. Lawmaker Fontana says those with disabled parking tags will receive a letter informing them that free parking has been eliminated. He says the new rule should be in place by late summer.