Politics & Government

POLL: Will Parking Amnesty Bring In Cash PC Leaders Hope For?

Across the board, Port Chester's trustees say parking amnesty is a good idea, but board Democrats argue their Republican counterparts shouldn't count the cash before it comes in.

It's pretty much unanimous: Port Chester's Democrats and Republicans think is a good idea.

Where they differ is in the details.

When Republicans pushed a through earlier this year, they projected $200,000 in revenue from a parking amnesty program. Along with , department slim-downs and accounting sleight-of-hand, it was one of the methods by which Republicans were able to in a tough economic climate.

Find out what's happening in Port Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But Port Chester's Democrats say the village shouldn't bank on revenue it hasn't received yet, especially when it's difficult to predict how much money Port Chester will receive in the amnesty program.

On Monday, Republican Trustee Sam Terenzi dismissed those concerns when Democrat Daniel Brakewood expressed misgivings during a meeting.

Find out what's happening in Port Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"When you're in the county up there, we'll send you an e-mail telling you how well we did," Terenzi said in a reference to for an open county legislature seat.

While politicians and residents juggled numbers and compared Port Chester to other cities and towns with amnesty programs, no one could say for certain how much revenue to expect when the amnesty program ends. Results vary wildly in different cities and towns, and Port Chester sits on the state line, making it a popular destination for out-of-state drivers who might not feel compelled to pay parking tickets in a town they don't visit often.

What do you think?


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