Letters

Don’t table garage proposal, bury it

I attended the July 25 Red Bank Borough Council meeting to discuss the new White Street parking garage agenda, and here is what I took away.

When someone, whether they be a resident or visitor, comes into downtown Red Bank to stop at one of the restaurants or shops, they may find parking to be frustrating, depending on the time of day.

Yet, there is a difference between not being able to find a parking space at all and not being able to find a parking space that you want during particular hours.

As a Red Bank resident taking into consideration the potential costs to my family to support a White Street parking garage, I would only support the garage to furnish a “need” rather than just a “want.”

Personally, if I am driving to downtown with the mission to eat at a specific restaurant or purchase at a specific shop, I can handle having to walk a couple of extra blocks to get there.

Likewise, if I am going to Red Bank to simply stroll down Broad Street (and perhaps purchase an item I see or stop for a bite), the idea of walking a few extra blocks is obviously a non-issue.

I am not sure where the Red Bank Parking Authority obtained the information that is the basis for this enormous project, but based upon the feedback from almost everyone I heard speak at this council meeting, there is no need for a parking garage in Red Bank.

I was born and raised in Red Bank and have lived here for 35 years. In the last six years, I have seen my property taxes double, but never once have I not found a parking space close to the downtown area. It may not have been the parking space I wanted, but nonetheless I could park my car.

So, in response to those council members who are advocating this parking garage, and to one in particular who proclaimed at the onset of the meeting that his mind was made up, please stop for a second and listen to the people living in your town — those you purportedly represent.

Let’s not “table” this parking garage item; let’s bury it and start to focus on more important issues affecting Red Bank.

Kim Senkeleski

Red Bank

Lack of parking hurts mom-and-pop stores

I am so grateful to be a part of Red Bank. If there is one positive thing I’ve gotten out of the parking garage debate, it’s that we Red Bankers all love our town.

Many town and shopping centers aspire to have such good energy, and pay millions per year in marketing, image and maintenance fees. Not Red Bank.

Some locals may be put off by our success, and would rather see the town stay their way, but my heart skips a beat with pride when people sing our praises. When I stand outside my store on a Saturday night and watch all kinds of happy faces walking by, from all walks of life and economic backgrounds, I really dig it.

You can’t construct that vibe at a shopping center or write it in a business plan. No, it’s in our heart.

Yet after people say how much they love Red Bank, they almost always follow that with the dreaded “there’s never any parking there!” It’s so frustrating, as we truly need a parking garage. And most who have examined the real facts, and ignored the inflammatory political sound bites flung back and forth, have reached the same conclusion.

I would like to be clear on why I am here in Red Bank as a merchant, doing what I love (as well as raising a family here as a resident).

From a young age, I have always dreamt of being a retailer. Like the majority of my peers, there was no magic pill for me, no money tree that someone planted in the backyard.

My family (most notably my sister), my staff and I built this business from the ground up and continue to fight the fight on a daily basis. We have sacrificed vacations, family parties and school recitals.

This is a labor of love, and I am so grateful to be living my dream out. But it’s not an easy ride. I operate on an honest grassroots philosophy. I dream of having many stores and no matter where I end up, I will continue with that same code of ethics.

I want to make one thing clear; most of our local merchants operate under that belief system. Jack’s Music Shoppe, Mustillos, No Ordinary Joe, Zebu, Stokaboka, Mr. Pizza Slice, Cocoon, Quicksilver and so many others, from old to new, do what they love. And you don’t have to spend tons of money to shop them.

What’s most frustrating to hear (aside from there’s no place to park) are those who say, “I can’t afford to shop in Red Bank anymore.”

While I consider many of our “high end” merchants to be respectable establishments (and I think we should all give them kudos), there are about 200 of us other merchants left wondering when a handful of businesses became the poster child for downtown Red Bank.

For the majority of us are grassroots mom-and-pop businesses, just keeping it real (as are the “high enders” that have just as much a right to conduct business freely as the rest of us).

I often hear some say they want to keep our town original and creative, but I can’t help but notice their Gap T-shirt, Coach bag and Old Navy flip-flops as they rant.

The big box retailers have transformed the retail world with their competitive pricing, free ample parking and many other incentives such large scale retailers can afford. They (and those who choose to shop there) have caused the demise of many small businesses.

Yes, I will be the first to admit I can’t live without my tank tops from Old Navy and MAC lipstick from Macy’s. But when someone complains about not being able to buy a gallon of milk in downtown Red Bank, remember that we, the consumers, are the ones who did not support these stores enough to keep them afloat.

Keep that in mind when considering who is hurt the most by the parking shortfall in Red Bank. It is not the “big guys.” Garmany’s business is better than ever; CoCo-Pari is having a banner year; the national brokerage houses already have adequate parking.

No, it is the independent stores –– the mom-and-pops — that suffer the most from a downtown parking system that is broken.

If the Red Bank council decides to continue our desperate parking situation by not building a garage, soon all of us small businesses will face a major threat to our continued operation.

High rents don’t force businesses to close (on a square foot basis, the now closed Prown’s had the cheapest rent in town), but it’s the lack of parking that has caused more businesses to fail than anything else.

The Grove has high rents, and yet, there is a waiting list to get in. Why? Because the large parking lot is the first thing you see. Princeton, Summit and other desirable downtowns in New Jersey have high rents, but they are thriving because they have multiple garages. Their employees can park all day and their customers can park near the stores, all without getting expensive tickets; without getting angry and without threatening never to come back to town.

Must we lose the eclectic nature and vitality of Downtown Red Bank before it’s too late? Must we lose more of our most valuable mom-and-pop stores that distinguish us from malls? Is there anyone alive today in Monmouth County who thinks Red Bank does not have a huge parking problem?

Earlier this week, the borough postponed action on the proposed parking garage, as it will be presenting a new approach that I understand will be comfortable to both taxpayers and merchants. And there is nothing I would like more to see than a consensus among residents and merchants on the garage.

So when the proposal is presented, I urge everyone — residents, merchants, and those who just love to come to Red Bank — to educate themselves on this crucial issue. Please approach it with an open mind and understand the facts behind our parking situation and the impact it has on all of us.

And also, if you are in the downtown, stop by and visit one of our local shops. Everyone you’ll meet behind the counter or on the floor is a hardworking employee or small business owner. Ask about the parking problem and hear our perspective. So please feel free to stop in and get to know us. I guarantee you’ll really like us!

Patti Siciliano

Funk & Standard

Red Bank