Several articles have outlined Albany's new parking permit system for particular neighborhoods downtown. I was never convinced that such a system is fair. I have always assumed that on-street parking should be first-come, first-served.
When have owners or renters had a privileged right to parking on our city streets? I own property in Albany and I don't.
Didn't people know when they bought homes in the area whether they had access to parking? Wasn't this priced into the values of these properties and affected their assessed value?
People who own property in the parking permit areas are receiving an unearned government benefit that other city taxpayers are not receiving.
At the very least, all commercial and residential property in the parking permit areas should have its assessments increased by the value of the parking permit when residents apply for a parking permit.
Think of it like this: If I make a major home improvement, the assessor has a right to take that into consideration when valuing my home.
Same with a parking permit. It can be assumed that it adds to the value of property in the permit area and its resale values.
Somebody should go to court and demand that the city revalue all the properties in the parking permit area.
Gene Damm
Albany
