Letter to the Editor
Parking no-no
Published Tuesday, May 13, 2008
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To the editor:
Beware! If you park against the wall that faces ACS (furthest away from the post office) and go into the post office and wait in line for 20 minutes because there are only two clerks to serve the line that meanders down the hallway ... you will likely get a $40 ticket. This is not U.S. Post Office parking, though you really wouldn’t have a clue.
The small blue “Employee Parking” sign is 3 to 4 feet behind the cement wall and there are no signs on the cement wall itself indicating that it is ACS employee parking. ACS has a huge parking lot across the street for employees which is very clearly marked — “NO PARKING Employees Only.”
When I was there recently, every space against that wall was filled with post office patrons and every car had a ticket on it. I sat across the street for about 20 minutes and watched as the Parking Authority employee waited for people to park and the minute the patrons disappeared into the post office, he was writing tickets. The city of Fairbanks is really rakin’ in the dough on this one.
Community Discussion
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Sounds a lot like the University.
...and local authorities wonder why people don't like coming downtown. They have never put 2+2 together that until the "parking Nazi's" are gone...people won't bother coming downtown. It's not worth it when businesses outside the core area are more welcoming. The Parking "authority" needs to be less authoritative. They will never believe it, but it's the major reason people don't come downtown. The city has done a nice job of closing some of the bars...now if people can park without the fear of a ticket (which finances the parking garage no one uses), then downtown might have a chance. *shrugs his shoulders*
This parking is not ACS I am under the understanding that ACS has one handicap spot on that wall and all other spots are actualy for post office employees. I regularly see ACS employees walking back and forth across the strees to the parking lot by the Bingo hall.
Tara, I went to the post office just yesterday. It isn't even my post office; I simply wanted to mail something and didn't feel like going to my regular post office. So, consider me a new customer.
When looking for a parking spot, I noticed several empty ones. I then noticed that there were signs that said, in no uncertain terms, EMPLOYEE PARKING. Those signs had arrows, and those arrows point across the concrete barrier in question. Guess what: I didn't park there! I thought "Hey, I'm not an employee of ACS. I shouldn't park here." So I waited a few minutes and got a legal spot.
It isn't ambiguous. Those signs are up and it is clearly stated employee parking. Maybe it takes a genius to figure out that it is employee parking for ACS, but anyone can plainly read the signs and figure those spots are reserved. Or did you think it was parking for people who are employed? "Hey, I'm an employee...somewhere! How nice!" Why do you need a sign on the wall itself? Why does it matter where the sign was? The parking authority sits there because they are easy tickets. People will get the message eventually and the "nazi" will move on. Same as a cop who sits on a stretch of highway on which everyone speeds.
I don't go downtown often, but I do realize I can get a ticket by parking in the wrong spot. Therefore, I actually use my eyes and read the signs. Even if it is going to be really quick, I don't park there.
Oldakcuss, don't get on the parking authority for writing you a ticket. It is YOUR fault you parked in the area. Why not use the parking garage and walk? Which is it: ten minute walk or $40 fine?
In closing, please don't think of a parking ticket in the post office area as a fine; think of it as a stupidity tax.
fbkreader, I assumed it was ACS parking. At any rate, what does it matter? It is employee parking for some business. All I know is that it didn't apply to me. And all the other people who are running in to the post office know that it doesn't apply to them, either.
I still can't believe that we need to have a letter to the editor explaining what an EMPLOYEE ONLY parking sign really means.
Maybe I'll write a letter explaining the signs that say PARKING LIMIT 2 HOURS. And another letter about what NO PARKING really means.
Ecray, I think it maters who's parking it is so that people know who to talk to about getting it fixed. The post office as a business is not providing as many possible spots as it could. If someone is going to complain it will be more worth while to go to the correct place.
Like I said earlier I am under the impression ,but do not know for fact, please correct me if I'm wrong. I believe it is the post office who is taking the spots.
Hea wait just a second,, the downtown parking garage will solve all the parking problems AND pay for itself.. dont you people have a memory ????
Why is the parking authority policing ACS' employee parking for them?
Bugger, you are correct. There is plenty of parking downtown! Some very capable people just do not seem to want to walk more than 10 feet.
Dude ... I disagree. The parking downtown is somewhere between bad and it sucks.
We continue to pound $$ downtown and it is a real stinky toilet .... time to flush the big one.
James: "We continue to pound $$ downtown and it is a real stinky toilet .... time to flush the big one."
What do you mean by that, James? That the City and the Borough should no longer invest in improvements or maintenance of the city center? That a city center is somehow not necessary for an urban area (pop. +/- 90,000)?
Before I start an earnest discussion with you, I'd like to understand better what you mean.
--Paul Adasiak
"Why is the parking authority policing ACS' employee parking for them?"
Outraged,
I had the same question run through my mind, and I'm sure that may have been missed by a few.
I read the charter documents for FPA, and it doesn't seem to have the authority to operate on private property.
So, the questions are:
(1) If the parking lot is "public", then what gives ACS the right to designate restrictions?
(2) If the parking lot is private, then what business is it of FPA, who has a charter with the city?
Maybe I don't fully understand the "special" rights of ACS or FPA.
I don't have any answers, just questions.
This town has parking problems everywhere not just downtown. It also has serious problems with roads to access these areas of popularity. The government NEVER PLANS anything. It is always an uncoordinated reaction. Really, they put in a Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Lowes, and a strip mall in an area and they left the roads that access those areas the same size they were before they arrived. My personal favorite is the intersection by Chili's is this really the best that they could come up with for traffic control. Of course the Fred Myer East parking lot is a very close second.
They (They gov and civil engineers) are only interested in getting the retail buildings on they're tax roll. Nevermind actually having a practical and functional system.
This is not ACS parking, I have verified with the parking authority that there is ONE ACS employee handicap spot in this row and is VERY CLEARLY marked. The rest of the parking does belong to the post office and is designated as employee parking for the post office.
The ACS lot across the street is not patrolled by the parking authority, not to say it is not patrolled by someone just not by the down town parking police.
Maybe someone should consider the taxes that were forever lost on liqour sales and the ilegal acts which were perpatrated in the gaining of the property for the seldom used(except by state attorny's)Parking garage... didden't they provide adequate parking at the New Courthouse?
This is my first time reading the comments for the letters to the editor. It seems like the people in this article seem more inclined to just bicker than recognize that the writer was simply warning Fairbanks residents that there is an area where the Parking Authority seems to like to hover and ticket people. If that writer had the wrong information on whose employee parking it belonged to, how about a simple "hey it's actually the post office's employee parking" and leave it at that. But that's just me.
Goldie- Great idea. I tried to send a friendly fyi early on, no one seems to read posts like that. It must be easier to ignore some posts just to argue over others.
I havent got a ticket, knock on wood, but Ive seen it happen at that post office. That is the #1 reason I dont go there anymore! The #2 reason is that they took out the automated postal machine (that you can buy and affix your own postage on packages). Those meter maids are vicious! Welcome tourists!
because of my fear of the parking authority i no longer go downtown. here is just a sample of the stores i USED to go to but no longer do.
1. big rays...... i now shop at the prospector for my winter wear needs.
2. two street station... now get my americanos from the starbucks at fred's east.
3. bahn thai.... we'd rather drive out to on's on sheep creek than risk a ticket.
4. co-op building... there is a lot of good diners on the outskirts of town. and if i need a t shirt with an alaska logo on it, walmart has plenty.
5. post office... the home computer just takes care of all my communication needs.
i know i'm just one person, and i don't spend a mint. but how many others are thinking just like me. wake up downtown business owners!!
Goldie, the writer of the letter clearly has a hard time comprehending signs. I was just there and had no trouble discerning employee parking, no matter who owns the spaces. I knew it wasn't meant for me and I didn't care who it was for.
Polarmark, I visit downtown every once in a while and never have a hard time finding parking, especially for Bahn Thai. Maybe I have to park a block away from my destination, but that is life.
I, too, have been ticketed downtown. I was in the wrong. I didn't complain.
Those of you who complain that parking downtown is just too perilous, or the Parking Authority too zealous: Do you have specific complaints that you have been ticketed mistakenly? Or are you just against the very existence of any parking authority? Is it that you'd like your parking to be free of cost and unrestricted with regard to place, duration, and manner, and that places outside of downtown appear to have that?
--Paul
polarmark, I agree with your comment. I just find other places to shop where the parking is easier and less of a headache. How hard is that?? Granted, I still love to walk through downtown shops and usually just park in the Sadler's parking lot-- no meters or fines to worry about. But as far as errands go or if I'm on a time crunch, forget it.
Usually if one can read there is absolutely no risk of getting a parking ticket in any city in the United States. I have never feared getting a parking ticket.
I got a ticket once, paid it off, lesson learned. I'll take my 20 minutes to do something contructive or fun rather than sit around watching parking authority do there job.
Just a fact the "state attorneys" have their own lot down 4th ave. I know parking downtown is a pain thats why I park and walk. I agree parking at the court house is a joke. The only people allowed to park there are judges and employees. I think they should park in the garage and let the public park out front.
To Whom it may Concern:
The Fairbanks Parking Authority does not sit and wait around for tickets they have routes that they have to do. The Post Office needs to have employee parking, they have a very limited area in which to do so. They marked the spaces with the signage, it is very visiable to spot these signs. Any company can contract the Fairbanks Parking Authority to maintain their parking because they have so little of it. Those who receive a ticket have the right to dispute it. The board of directors can be very fair depending on the citation. They do promote free parking to the public in the Saddlers Parking Lot, Griffen Park after 10:00AM, behind the court house and across the river at the city's lot in front of the Immaculate conseption Church and there is a very nice foot bridge that was built for this reason. I think that the public always will blame the Authorities when they receive tickets instead of taking the blame for themselves for doing wrong or parking in the wrong locations. We as a public need to watch all signage that is posted and just abide by the rules. It is not that difficult to avoid a parking citation or traffic citation.
Where are all of you that think the government is taking over and trampling on our right to park wherever we want!!
Just go downtown and park for 2 hours and 5 minutes and you will find out! The last time I rode my bike downtown and went into a store, when I came out it was stolen! They need to install hitching posts again so we can tie our bikes up. Heck, I can't afford another bike anyway. I'll just go the east or west side of town, they have everything I need anyway!
kgage...unfortunately I have personally seen your employees waiting for someone to either get in or out of a vehicle that they believe is illegally parked. Unfortunately your parking attendants do not use common sense most of the time and write frivolous tickets that get written off anyway. It's admirable to stick up for your employees, but those of us who have seen otherwise take exception to your naiveity. Maybe you should do some tailing of your attendants sometime...you might be surprised.
The Downtown Post Office and The Fairbanks Parking (de)Authority do seem to have a great relationship.
First the Post Office repaved the parking lot and added beauty and design by making a wall.
Then they had to make a walkway around this wall.
Then they had to make room for customers to walk around this wall, and in so doing so they painted yellow slanted stripes on the pavement, meaning do not park.
These walkways are just the perfect size I might add of a parking space. I guess they are thinking ahead of the enlarging population.
Anyway, this winter I watched the Parking police ticket so many patrons of the Post Office who did not know that under the ice and snow there were these yellow warning stripes, and it was not a parking place.
No other signs warn against parking in these parking size walkways...
I feel for the newbee's in our Golden Heart City.
The Fairbanks commerce center has long been removed from downtown leaving most people with little or no reason to risk getting a ticket. I've had several incidents with the parking patrol and now choose to simply shop elsewhere. Fairbanks is not a big enough city to really need the level of enforcement that we currently have.