Skip to main content

Downtown bar owners say new overnight parking restrictions could hurt business

By Howard B. Owens

Years ago, O'Lacy's co-owner Kent Ewell was concerned about his customers getting tickets for parking overnight in the lot across from his pub on School Street.

Ewell marched down to city hall and complained and, he said, and the tickets stopped.

Now, they're starting again and he's none too happy about it.

"I don't think it's the right way to look at the situation," Ewell said. "Somebody has made a good decision not to drive and they get a ticket."

Bar owners downtown say it's not unusual for customers to have an unexpected drink, have one more than they planned, run into an old buddy leading to a later night, or have some other circumstance change, and find themselves walking home, taking a cab or getting a ride from a friend.

Derek Geib, co-owner of Bourbon & Burger Co. on Jackson Street, said he's worried that human nature being what it is, some people will make an incorrect calculation and risk a possible DWI charge, costing hundreds if not thousands of dollars, when confronted with the certainty of a $25 ticket.

"It encourages drinking and driving," Geib said. "They're going to do it every time because that's the way people think."

One of Geib's employees and one of his customers have received tickets so far.

City Manager Jason Molino stands by the city's decision to enforce downtown parking regulations. He said it's necessary to ensure transient trucks, RVs, abandoned vehicles and such don't clutter the parking lot, and during the winter, maintain control of what vehicles are in the lots.

He said so far there's been good compliance, with apartment tenants buying the necessary permits and fewer cars without permits being left overnight.

As for bar patrons, Molino said there is an appeal process and any patron receiving a ticket is welcome to submit the ticket to the city for review.

"Discretion will be exercised if needed," Molino said. "But I would suggest that somebody make better arrangements (when going to bars).

Ken Mistler, owner of the former South Beach and soon-to-be City Slickers said that's not good enough.

"I'm concerned because if a customer finds a ticket he's not going to say anything, he's just going to be discouraged from coming back," Mistler said.

According to Mistler, he's been told by the city that only cars that are seen in the lots on a regular basis but don't have permits will receive tickets, but even then, he said, that is still a potential problem with customers.

"I hope I have lots of repeat business," Mistler said.

Local resident John Condello has started a petition that will be presented to the city council at its June 14 meeting, he said. The petition is available at any downtown restaurant, he said.

A lot has changed in downtown since the current downtown parking regulations were written into law and city officials should reexamine the rules, Ewell said.

"They were written before there was an O'Lacy's, before there was a South Beach, before there was a Larry's," Ewell said. "There was only the Candlelight."

The price of the $25 ticket is about six gallons of gas at today's prices, Ewell said, which is just about the amount somebody might spend to get from Brockport to Batavia, or just enough to discourage a trip from out of the county to enjoy a night on the town in Batavia.

The bar owners we spoke with all believe the new enforcement effort is just an attempt by the city to generate more revenue.

"You can tell it is because there was no plan, no questions (of local businesses), they just started ticketing," Ewell said. "That just leads me to believe they said, 'let's just get the money.' "

Dave Olsen

"The bar owners we spoke with all believe the new enforcement effort is just an attempt by the city to generate more revenue." I'm quite sure that's exactly what's going on. Can anyone tell me if they've ever experienced a problem finding a parking spot in Batavia? Come on

May 9, 2012, 1:20pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

Someone brought up a good point about the parking in another news report and it went something like this: "What if someone drove into Batavia for a night of fun and merriment, became too intoxicated to drive and then decided to do the right thing by taking a cab ride home?"

I thought it was a great argument for not ticketing people taking advantage of the overnight parking.

May 9, 2012, 2:29pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

What are the vehicles hurting by parking there over night anyway? It's not like the lots are going to be full and even in the winter, plows don't have to operate every night of the season.

May 9, 2012, 2:34pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

When I lived in Rochester (I hated that place) the streets had alternate parking for snow removal. The same could be done for the parking lots in Batavia for over night parking.

May 9, 2012, 2:37pm Permalink
John Roach

This is the type of thing that, if you're a Town resident, confirms why you do not want to consolidate with the City. It's always something that just irritates people.

May 9, 2012, 2:50pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Jason Molino said this...City Manager Jason Molino stands by the city's decision to enforce downtown parking regulations. He said it's necessary to ensure transient trucks, RVs, abandoned vehicles and such don't clutter the parking lot, and during the winter, maintain control of what vehicles are in the lots.

He said so far there's been good compliance, with apartment tenants buying the necessary permits and fewer cars without permits being left overnight.

So then why change things, there are police and local towing companies that can tow RVs and transient trucks those types of parking are something obvious and enforceable outside of this ticketing BS. Abandoned cars happen if there is a ticketing process or not, placing a warning sticker for 24 to 48 hour removal. The driving away of business for the bars and resteraunts far outweighs the moneys they are gonna gain from the paying of fines. How about when someone drives home because of these laws, forced onto a choice, dwi convictions and any victimes of this dwi that could have been avoided just have to bring up the articles now, showing that the public and the merchants didn't want this, and told them not to do it, and they did it anyway. What cost of defending the city from these lawsuits. Why is the city steamrolling this over the public that they are supposed to be the voice of? Put it to a public vote.... otherwise you just prove your intentions, this law isnt for the benefit of the people, just te benefit of the city's coffers at te expense of the people.

May 9, 2012, 2:55pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

Doug i agree....Why don't they just do away with the 2-6 no parking ban on all city streets..Unless there is going to be a snow issue....How many have got a ticket in front of their own house because they forgot to pull their car in the driveway at night....Maybe city council could change this law....It all about money...And John you are right on the consolidation.....Why if i give the city money for permit i can park overnight,if its not about money.....People try to do the right thing and don't drink and drive and they get a ticket.........

City Manager Jason Molino stands by the city's decision to enforce downtown parking regulations. He said it's necessary to ensure transient trucks, RVs, abandoned vehicles and such don't clutter the parking lot, and during the winter, maintain control of what vehicles are in the lots...Is he for real...Those all seem like pretty lame excuses as to why their is not parking..I doubt any of that will happen if they do away with the law..If That is so, then just make the law pertain to transient trucks, RVs, abandoned vehicles...It all about money......................I'm signing the petition ...Lets see if all on council vote in agreement on this one..

May 9, 2012, 3:16pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

I was thinking the same thing about the consolidation thing John.

He (Molino) said it's necessary to ensure transient trucks, RVs, abandoned vehicles and such don't clutter the parking lot, and during the winter, maintain control of what vehicles are in the lots.

Is this a problem? I went to the Save-A-Lot and Angotti's Friday with my wife and didn't notice any RV's or tractor trailers parked anywhere. Just personal type vehicles and lots of empty spaces.

May 9, 2012, 4:20pm Permalink
kevin kretschmer

Perhaps the City Manager is taking pro-active steps to avoid what is likely an issue currently going on in the Town of Batavia. There are people living in vehicles in some of the store parking lots.

May 9, 2012, 4:47pm Permalink
Bob Rathenburgh

Fine, give out your tickets and collect your money... while you can.. Because what are you going to do when you drive everyone away from this town over parking tickets. You will have to find another way to get your money then, along with new businesses because they will lose customers over this stupid "law". Good luck with that.. Always thinking about NOW and not the future.

May 9, 2012, 4:48pm Permalink
Irene Will

How about giving the business owners TEMPORARY permits that THEY issue themselves ? For instance, if a guy is at South Beach, and doesn't feel he's sober enough to drive home, he goes to the bartender who issues him a permit that has South Beach, the date and the car license number on it. The car owner can put in his window. The permit can be good till, say, 10:00 A.M. the next day [or pick a time]. When the police go through the parking lots, the vehicles WITH those permits don't get tickets - - unless the car is still there the next day after the expiration time. The vehicles WITHOUT any permit get tickets.

May 9, 2012, 5:04pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

I know you're just trying to help think of a solution, Irene, so I'm sorry if I appear critical, but that's probably too complicated. If the Police don't have anything better to do than write parking tickets for cars sitting in a parking lot overnight, then maybe it's not necessary to have them around. Pretty expensive parking attendants if you ask me, and I know noone did.

May 9, 2012, 5:23pm Permalink
Timothy Walton

What happens if a business decides it wants to be open 24 hours a day like Sporto's is? Then you can't park in the lot while going into the business? If the parking is restricted between 2am and 6am, then what happens to the people getting up to go to Next Level Fitness at 5am? Where do they park?... and how often is there really an abandoned RV left in a parking lot?

May 9, 2012, 6:11pm Permalink
Alex Veltz

The job of the Batavia PD is to “serve and protect”… right? How is issuing tickets for making a responsible decision protecting anyone? This is a money grab and nothing more. Sadly, the money being grabbed is not the $25 parking ticket, but rather the hundreds, likely thousands, generated from issuing DWIs to people who have thrown their inhibitions to wind and in a moment of poor judgment decide to risk the drive home. The city is trying to entice people to drive drunk in an attempt to fatten pocket books, even if it increases the chances of calamity that result from added drunk drivers on the road. I attend the Next Level, Save-A-Lot and B&B regularly and I would much rather drive over a pile of snow or take a longer walk to the building than know that my selfishness, or in this case the selfishness of the city, caused there to be extra drunken drivers on the road that could cause harm to themselves or others. In addition to putting peoples’ lives in jeopardy, this ploy to generate revenue is also going to hurt local businesses in an economy that isn’t exactly flourishing. It is despicable and irresponsible to issue tickets to people who correctly decide to avoid driving if they have had more than a couple drinks.

May 10, 2012, 11:28am Permalink
Phil Ricci

I don't know why this has to be hard...Simply make overnight parking a buck or two and give the bar owners the ability to sell or give them to their patrons. That would control your transient parking and still allow the business owners to control the downtown scene. Simple.

BUT wait....we don't like simple. Sorry.

May 9, 2012, 7:19pm Permalink
JERRY CONDELLO

JUST HAD AN EMAIL THAT WAS FORWARDED TO ME BY STEVE HAWLEY, IT READS. "After reading this I spoke with Jason. It is my understanding that if anyone wishes to leave there car parked in a city lot after an evening of enjoyment at one of our local establishments, that all they have to do is call the City Police and let them know and their car will not be ticketed. Either they can call or the restaurant may call."
2 comments I received:
- Sam Sallome wrote: "Good Luck! When I had my driveway done, Jaime called and reported our cars would be in the street. I got a ticket the next day. It ended up being thrown out, but I was told it is still the officers discretion whether to write the ticket or not. So again, good luck."
- Marc Staley wrote: "You should organize a "Drive out and Drink Night" in Batavia. Let's all go to one of the local joints down there and ALL LEAVE at least one car in the lot overnight. We could all start calling the police office at about 1am letting them know our license plate numbers. Can you imagine how long that shit would last. I would love it if they got like 90 calls one night. They would end that shit real quick!!"

In Closing, I think Jason Molino is wrong by enforcing this ridiculous law, money grab is all it is.

May 9, 2012, 7:41pm Permalink
JERRY CONDELLO

DON'T AGREE WITH THIS AT ALL:
There are 7 bars / restaurants in walking distance from the Save-A-Lot
- South Beach, Bourbon & Burger, TF Browns, Center Street, Larry's, Sunny's & OLacy's. If I wanna be responsible and not drive after a few cocktails, i'm running the risk of getting a friggin' parking ticket by leaving my truck in a parking lot? With DWI being so popular these days, you would think the city would open their parking lots for the people who wanna support these downtown businesses. If the decision makers of this community were in fact business owners themselves, they would see that every change in the community is indeed a reflect on business & profits.

May 9, 2012, 7:48pm Permalink
Bea McManis

I called the police dept when our sidewalks were repaved. My son was due any day and having the car parked in front of the house was vital. After explaining the situation, I was told I'd have to take my changes. We got a ticket!
So much for alerting the police of a situation.

May 9, 2012, 9:13pm Permalink
Brian Graz

Yea... what happened to, "TO SERVE AND PROTECT" ?

Instead of looking to raise revenues by unreasonable/unneighborly means, maybe we need to follow the lead of TIMMONSVILLE, S.C. — Timmonsville is letting go of its entire police force, its town administrator and a clerk of the court to help pay it's debts and expenses.

May 11, 2012, 10:31pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

Jerry ..I was at Olacy's tonite.They knew nothing of your petition..I wanted to sign...Who is the concilman for all these downtown bars...You would think he or she would be the one to bring this issue up at a council meeting...Not Steve Hawely...Maybe they think we should have a study done on this..........They love to pay for studies.....This is a money grab and nothing else..

May 9, 2012, 10:29pm Permalink
Michael Pullinzi

You hit the nail on the head there Jerry. Most on City Council don't have a clue and that is where the resolution lays. Replace them and get people on City Council in touch with the real world.

May 10, 2012, 6:31am Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

Lets face it people, Batavia is nothing more than a city that keeps trying to re-invent itself to no avail.
Our leaders keep finding new ways to steal money from its citizens.
If I chose to visit a bar in the city, the very last thing I would ever consider would be to inform the police that I was in no condition to drive home, give them a plate#, and/ or a description of my vehicle. I believe releasing that information would make my vehicle a target anytime it was spotted on the road after 12 am in the city.
The best advice I have ever heard was, if you plan on consuming alcoholic beverages at a bar, leave your car home, and have a plan to get home that doesn't include yourself driving after consuming alcoholic beverages.

May 10, 2012, 9:15am Permalink
JERRY CONDELLO

The petitions are at Next Level Fitness, O'Lacy's, Center Street, Bourbon & Burger & Sunny's. Soon to be at TF Brown's & Larry's (any other businesses and/or person who would like to start their own petition can do so. City Council meeting on June 14th, everyone is welcome to attend - open to the public)

"If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything"

May 10, 2012, 11:05pm Permalink
Sean McKellar

Jerry, just do what I do. If you want to get your drink on, go to Rochester or Buffalo. You know all the same people I do, and I never have a problem finding a couch. And overnight parking is just fine.

May 10, 2012, 11:40pm Permalink
Mary E DelPlato

wow really? like that parking lot is ever needed for anything else? lmao....tickets mean money bottom line....leave things alone that are working for local businesses ....geez

May 11, 2012, 10:29am Permalink
Mary E DelPlato

these businesses dont have the accomodations for thier own parking and have used the parking lots for years. NOW city wants to hand out tickets? for shame....plz ....wow!

May 11, 2012, 10:31am Permalink
Brian Graz

Horror of horrors! Last evening I was at WalMart and in their parking lot there were 6 motor-homes/campers set up for the night. Worst yet I actually saw the occupants from a couple of them going into WalMart to probably buy something!!! OMG!

The best remedy would be to privatize all the parking lots in the city, just as they are now at Aldi’s Plaza, Valu Plaza, Sporto’s, etc. It’s a simple fact that it would be cheaper for all via less tax expenditure for City workers to manage the properties [whenever the government runs anything it is always much more costly and much less efficient].

Have you ever noticed that even the VA hires a private security company to police their property? Hmmmmmmmmmm.

May 11, 2012, 10:44pm Permalink
Ken Mistler

Thank you Jerry Condello. First of all let me start by typing, we are not talking about having to be drunk to leave your car behind for the evening! If you are a holder of a commercial drivers license the legal limit .04% any one who has a commercial license knows how valuable this is to there family and job. I cannot count how many times I drove home customers and friends from South Beach who where not drunk who simply had one or two beers and did not want to take a chance on driving, and how glad I was to see there car still in the parking lot early the next morning and gone with in a few hours. I have four cameras on the outside south of the building that over looks the parking lot. The police have used my cameras numerous times to catch bad guys, and I have to tell you there are never any Rv campers or truckers out there. But to be honest I think we would all want a sleepy truck driver or grandpa driving an Rv to pull over and catch a few ZZZZzzzzs in our public lot rather then.......you know. I myself have been given 3 tickets for parking over the two hour limit parked in the spots behind my business and I deserved it and paid the 75 bucks. I truly believe my customers and my fellow business owners customers should not be subject to any fines for parking in a lot that we the tax payers are already paying for. Each customers purchase generates 8% sales tax 4% of that tax the county gets to keep, sounds like our customers are already paying to park in these lots. How many people reading this know that any business owner who has dumpster in a city lot has to pay $100 for each one..Thats $200 per restaurant who have grease dumpsters. My OPINION is: If the city is looking to generate more revenue try doing something with the countless not for profit organizations that pay zero in taxes and still get the same services as the tax payers do garbage pick up, fire dept, police, code enforcement, plowing. they hang signs and banners with no permits and have Fish Fry with collecting no sales tax!!! Actually now after typing my venting section... I see why the city needs this extra revenue after all... never mind!!!

May 11, 2012, 11:12pm Permalink
Billie Owens

I'm sure it's no secret to truckers and RVers that Wally World has always allowed them to park overnight in their parking lots, and it's free, no tickets, no hassle. That's why you see a few of them most all the time on the fringes of their parking lots.

Those folks can't make it their home -- nothing long-term -- but they can park overnight.

That's why I can't imagine big rigs clogging up the downtown parking lots. They'd rather go where they know they can snooze without incident.

May 12, 2012, 12:00pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

Ken ...You hit the nail on the head when it comes to the non profits in this city not paying there fair share..Too bad city council doesn't see it that way..It is about revenue..Whats next bring back the parking meters..Wake up city council ..Listen to these business owners..Good Luck on the new restaurant......

May 12, 2012, 11:27pm Permalink
JERRY CONDELLO

Jason Molino said, "There is a Parking Lot Committee that makes recommendations to the city." According to Jason, "This committee works with the downtown businesses to make recommendations on the parking rules."

My question is, who are the people that make up this parking committee? I want names, phone numbers & email addresses. Furthermore, I don't know of one business owner in the City who ever spoke to this committee about "Overnight Parking" If such a committee does exists, why is Jason Molino enforcing parking tickets to BPD?

PLEASE PEOPLE, You are still welcome to come and voice your opinion at the next city council meeting on Monday, May 14th. The old saying is, "If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything."

May 13, 2012, 12:03am Permalink
carol grasso

I wish I had a nickel for every study that has been done on the city of Batavia. Who gives a crap about cars parked over night because they didn't want to hurt anyone after having one to many. Let's hope Mr. City Manager's child isn't on the street when this person drives home drunk. I want to know if they need money so bad why don't they sit at Tim Hortons drive thru and ticket everyone who come out and makes a left from getting their coffee. There is a one way sign there and I don't know anyone who has ever gotten a ticket turning left there. The sign say's one way to the right. next time you go get coffee look striaght ahead and you will see the sign one way----> through the post office parking lot. At $20.00 a ticket I'll bet you could make a bundle. The officer could just sit there in a chair and stand up and hand them their ticket. Lets start enforcing the other laws before you start making new ones!! The sign at Tim Horton's has been there since it opened and they still don't enforce it!!!

May 13, 2012, 12:33am Permalink
Brian Graz

Is this really about parking? Or is it about a select few business owners organizing to be taken care of? If it is really about parking then it’s about enforcement. If so, there are a number of other violators/abusers who seem to go unchecked daily. Some of the entrepreneurs that are participating in this campaign park in 2 hr parking regularly for much more than 2hrs, and unless they just keep paying the fines(?), are apparently ignored when doing so. {Yea, I know you move your vehicles to a different spot every 2 hrs.}

As for the many other potential violations that go unchecked… maybe it’s time to strike up a conversation about Red Light running. I was originally opposed to Red Light Cameras, but no longer. For too long I’ve watched repeatedly after the light has turned Red, 2, 3 and 4 vehicles continue on thru the intersection. It’s like these people don’t feel the traffic signal applies to them! The worst problem areas are Main & Ellicott, Main & Lewiston, Ellicott & Jackson… one would think that the police would target these areas because of this problem… but do you ever see anyone get tagged for it? I don’t and I’m out there much more than most.

I drive through the city all day/every day [BLine] and I see everything. I see people talking on cell phones [usually on duty police officers], and I see people in vehicles with the windows so blacked out that you can’t see anyone inside, and I see drivers with earbuds in both ears, and I see people with handicapped tags, rosaries, jewelry chains, fuzzy dice, hanging from their rearview mirror… all things that are illegal. How often do these people get ticketed? Probably only as a second offense after they get a parking ticket.

How about the semi-truck and tour busses that come into Batavia, especially on Ellicott St, going well over the speed limit and the driver [often from out of town, or out of the country with a towel wrapped around their head] is talking on a cell phone, and maybe running the Red light to boot. When was the last time anyone saw a BPD officer stopping these guys? Almost never because it is too much hassle dealing with the log book etc. But let aunt Elaine park on the wrong side of the street in front of a friend’s home on Dewey Ave. at noontime, and ya know what? She gets ticketed.

And to add to my vent [since I’m on a roll], why in hell are we paying top dollar for what’s supposed to be NYS’s elite police force [the NY State Troopers] to do nothing more than regularly set up speed traps at the outskirts of Batavia [and I’m sure many other communities]? Shouldn’t these top cops be chasing serious criminals? If they have manpower and time for such frivolous things, then I say NYS should cut back on the number of State Troopers and save the taxpayers some serious $$$.

I’m out.

May 13, 2012, 3:29am Permalink
Mark Brudz

An average of two troopers per shift work Genesee County and a large portion of the State Polices road patrol responsibilty is trafiic enforcement.

On a given evening you might have 3 deputy sherrifs and one sargent covering 495 square miles.

Likewise, on a given evening in the city, the BPD has 3 patrol officers and a supervisor working the city,

The State Troopers working Genesee County are dispatched through our local county distpatch, aside from traffic enforcement, they answer complaints, respond to accidents and back up both the county and city in matters requiring more manpower.

Additionally, the state police act as a conduit to bring investigative and manpower enhancements when required to the county. For example they may bring a unit from orleans patrol area or livingston patrol area or wyoming area as necessary to assist when manpower is needed.

The way I see it, given the funds available, it seems like a fairly efficient set up.

The parking issue is a city council issue plan and simple, Jason Molino can not pass a local law or regulation without the council, that is where the any aingst about this must and should be addressed, even that mysterious parking comitte only advises the council, they do not set the regulation.

If you want this parking regulation to change, city council meetings are the place to start. Talk to YOUR councilmen, GO TO the meetings BE HEARD. Jason can only act on the laws our elected offcials legislate.

May 13, 2012, 1:29pm Permalink
Brian Graz

Hmmmmmmmmmm... That's funny, I have often seen 3 State Trooper vehicles staked out along E Main St between the city line and DSS stopping vehicles one after another. And let's not forget about how regularly we see 3 or 4 Troopers parked at various restaurants around town for meal time. How is this possible if there is only 2 assigned per shift per county?

Anyhow, I'm sorry to have brought the State Trooper question into this conversation as it has nothing to do with the topic at issue... unless the Troopers start writing parking tickets in the city parking lots.

May 13, 2012, 6:03pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

The Troop Headquarters is here, you see more than just the road patrols at the restaurants, and things like seat belt checks and special traffic enforvement details also exist, I was talking about the actual patrols.

The seatbelt check on saturday was a special detail

May 13, 2012, 6:04pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

Again Brian, The Police just enforce local and state law, whether parking or otherwise, the City council is where things like this need to be directed

May 13, 2012, 6:13pm Permalink
Brian Graz

Interesting, so by just enforcing local laws, the State Troopers could start writing parking tickets in the City of Batavia?

This all makes me recall something that a long time family friend who happened to be an attorney and judge in my hometown once told me. "Just because it's legal doesn't make it right".

May 13, 2012, 8:42pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

I didn't say that Brian, and I would find it very unlikely to say the least. What I said though was to rant against the police will not change the parking laws, I said that those who feel strongly about this should infact attend city council meetings and push for changes in the codes thatis all.

May 14, 2012, 12:33pm Permalink
Brian Graz

C'mon now...

In #42 you said "The Police (generic) just enforce {local} and state law, whether parking or otherwise"...
In #43 I said "so by just enforcing {local} laws, the State Troopers could start writing parking tickets in the City of Batavia?"...
In #44 you say "I didn't say that"...
now...
In #45 I'm saying "oh yes you did".

Eng 101

May 14, 2012, 8:52pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

What a stretch Brian, not going to going to go (Yes you did --- No you didn't) Reasonable people know exactly what I was saying, But for you I will say it one more time..

THE POLICE ARE IN NO WAY THE PROBLEM WITH THE PARKING LOT, IF YOU WANT THE PARKING REGULATIONS CHANGED, IT IS THE CITY COUNCIL YOU NEED TO ADDRESS
AND SINCE YOU ARE ON HERE NIT PICKING MY STATEMENT AND MISSING THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING IT APPEARS IT ISN'T THAT IMPORTANT TO YOU AFTER ALL

May 14, 2012, 9:12pm Permalink
Brian Graz

No stretch at all MARK. You are talking like a politician and you are only a marketing guy, is the police department a client? Are you the person responsible for talking the City Police department into changing their logo away from the long American standard “To Serve and To Protect”?

I am an intelligent person and you DON”T need to “say it again”. In fact who do you think you are talking to using that kind of rhetoric?!!!

When the police ticket some parking violators and ignore others don’t tell me that they have no involvement in the parking problem in this town. Sure the Council sets policy, but the officers have an obligation to enforce fairly and equitably and I know from 1st hand witness that this does not happen.

May 15, 2012, 12:32pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

Enjoy you Bliss Brian. It simply isn't worth a war of words.

I simply hate police officers being berated for the actions of politicians.

Have a good one

May 14, 2012, 11:16pm Permalink
Brian Graz

The only bliss I get these days is from my kids & their family.

Oh by the way my son is a police officer, in another city much larger than ours. You oughta here some of the things we discuss. Funny there's never been any talk about parking tickets... wait a minute, there was one time when they got a parking ticket on the street in front of their home. That was before my son got to drive his police car home every day. I wonder if that made a difference?

May 14, 2012, 11:54pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

Brian I am glad your son is big city police officer, I am sure you hear some great stories. I bet they even have a traffic division that writes the parking tickets so he doesn't have to. but hey we live in a small city and don't have that luxury.

Be proud of your son, enjoy your kids and thier families, and above all be happy. Pretty much all I have left to say.

May 15, 2012, 1:01am Permalink

Authentically Local