Passaic Mayor Hector Carlos Laura Community Parking Discussion - Aug 25, 2025
Passaic Mayor Hector Carlos Laura Community Parking Discussion - August 25, 2025
Mayor Hector Carlos Laura hosted a Facebook Live session on August 25, 2025, to discuss parking issues and enforcement in Passaic. He provided an overview of new parking spaces created during his tenure, explained the rationale for enhanced overnight enforcement, and responded to numerous public comments and questions. Deputy Chief Louis Gentile of the Passaic Police Department joined the mayor to clarify enforcement procedures and address specific resident concerns.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Geraldo Pichon questioned why some cars are ticketed while others are not, particularly in overnight enforcement. The mayor responded that violations such as parking near a stop sign or crosswalk are more serious and more likely to be ticketed.
- Alex and others reported receiving tickets daily and asked for relief. The mayor acknowledged the frustration but emphasized safety and liability concerns.
- Buck complained that mechanics use streets for storage, reducing available parking. The mayor stated that an ordinance has been passed targeting mechanics, and enforcement is ongoing.
- Ada asked about vehicles that never move. The mayor explained that after 48 hours a car can be towed; Deputy Chief initially suggested 24 hours but later confirmed the ordinance allows towing after 48 hours.
- Jezebel Fernandez (former youth council member) and others reported neighbors blocking driveways to save parking spots. The mayor said blocking a driveway can result in a ticket or tow.
- Eugene suggested checking plates more regularly for fake or suspended registrations; the mayor confirmed the city uses license plate readers (LPRs).
- Rex and Joab reported abandoned vehicles from out-of-town mechanics. The mayor pledged to follow up.
- Perla accused officers of issuing tickets after street sweepers pass and of receiving commissions; the mayor and deputy chief denied any incentives for ticket writing.
- Ellie Rivera complained that out-of-state vehicles take up resident parking. The mayor responded that out-of-state visitors are not illegal, but residents using out-of-state plates to avoid enforcement may be investigated.
- Many other residents requested parking permits, stricter enforcement, painted lines, and more overnight parking enforcement.
Discussion Items
- New Parking Spaces: The mayor reported that he has created over 700 new parking spaces since taking office, including a 300-space parking deck on State/Passaic Street, angled parking on Gregory Avenue and Broadway, 31 spaces on River Drive, 30 spaces on First and Jefferson Streets, 40 spaces on Benson Avenue, 43 spaces at Christopher Columbus Park, 55 spaces at Pulaski Park, and smaller additions elsewhere. He described his “dream project” – a 410-space parking deck on Parker Avenue, estimated at $15 million, which would bring total new spaces to over 1,000.
- Overnight Enforcement: The mayor explained that he hired overnight parking enforcement in response to community complaints about commercial vehicles parking overnight, cars blocking visibility at intersections, and resulting accidents. He stated that enforcement aims to improve safety and that the city could be liable if accidents occur due to unenforced illegal parking.
- Parking Permits: The mayor said he has supported parking permits for years and has passed some permit zones, but broader implementation requires strong community turnout at meetings or elections to demonstrate widespread demand. He urged residents to vote and attend city council meetings to build political capital.
- Deputy Chief’s Clarifications: Deputy Chief Louis Gentile confirmed that abandonment can result in a tow after 48 hours, but if other violations (e.g., suspended registration) are present, a vehicle may be towed sooner. He stated that tickets are written for safety awareness, not for monetary incentives, and that summons issuance correlates with fewer accidents. He also noted that the traffic division uses license plate readers and covert cameras to identify violators.
- Handicap Parking: The mayor described a “use it or lose it” ordinance that allows removal of handicap parking spaces if they are not genuinely used. He also noted that state law caps the number of such spaces per block.
- Bicycles and Scooters: The mayor addressed questions about bicycles and motorized scooters violating traffic laws. Deputy Chief said officers are instructed to take enforcement action and can issue summonses through the mail if they cannot stop the rider immediately.
Key Outcomes
- The mayor reiterated his commitment to creating more parking and continuing enforcement for safety.
- He promised to investigate specific complaints about abandoned vehicles, mechanic storage, and out-of-state plates.
- The deputy chief encouraged the public to report violations via the non-emergency police number (973-365-3900) or by providing photos/video for follow-up.
- The mayor announced that painted parking lines will resume in the spring and that the city will continue to study additional parking needs.
- He called on residents to unite, vote in elections, and attend community meetings to support initiatives like citywide parking permits.
Meeting Transcript
Those are participants and comparing, as you want that those would receive the miserable. I just want to make sure that everybody can receive the same information. Alright, as I was stating, and I also want to make sure that if there are any questions, I can answer them. Okay, Gerardo Pichon, gracias because I can respond to the pregunta. So again, I wanted to share some information to discuss specifically issues in the community regarding parking and enforcement of parking. Again, as I mentioned, when individuals express their concerns, criticisms, or questions, but do so in a genuine, sincere manner, even when they're frustrated, I want to respond, especially when they are legitimate concerns. Now I'll reiterate, I said it before, that can be subjective, what's legitimate to one may not be legitimate to all, but every now and then I try to filter what's being shared, and when it's a legitimate question, I want to address it. So I want to thank uh Geraldo Pichon who submitted a question about overnight enforcement and early morning enforcement of parking, and I want to talk about parking in the city of Pasake. So thank you all for joining. I'm gonna try to answer questions later, but please let me make the presentations first, uh, and then I'll get to some questions. Even though uh Ericsson put I Lugares if no parqueo dura una hour business, and when I levanta, I have this ticket because I think Eric, that's what I want to respond. Hoy concentrate me solamente in this thing. All right, I got it. You shared why are people giving tickets out? I know you know your mayor, and you're thinking, mayor, you have a tendency, propensity to go off on different topics and address a thousand things in one video. Today I'm looking to focus, hyper focus, and uh and stay on topic regarding parking and enforcement of parking. I'll try. If somebody brings up something interesting, I might address it, but at least for the most part, I'll stay in the parking. So give me an opportunity to address the concerns first, give a presentation on parking, and then we'll get to questions. But let me just see, Alex, thank you for joining. Mayor, we have a serious problem on Lincoln Street and Paul Synav. I became a long time PASIC since 1995, we get tickets every day. Alex, I don't want you to get tickets every day. Let me do the presentation, guys, and we'll get to it in a minute. Hector Laura, what do you think? Flores, that's what I want to respond. I'm gonna get to it. Okay, buenas tardes. All right, Carlita, gracias. Okay, everybody's with us. We're gonna talk about parking. Let me talk a little bit about PASIC. The city of Passake. We just celebrate 150th anniversary. I'm incorporated in uh, I believe it was April 2nd, 1873. 150 years. With 3.2 square miles. We're one of the most densely populated cities in the United States of America. With uh according to our 2020 census, 70,000 residents. There are a lot of cars in the city of Pisc, considering our size. We're densely populated, we have a lot of vehicles. Even more vehicles, as uh obviously things have changed over the years. I've shared it before, with $99 down, zero credit, you can drive a car off the lot. That's how some dealers advertise it. Back in the day, only one person would have one car per family. Now you can find five cars per family. There are a lot of cars on the roads. We understand that. 3.2 million of 2020, most of 70 mil residents in the ciudad. So there are much gente in the pueblo.
openpublica.com