To our elected officials,

We the undersigned are writing to urge you to create residential permit parking in the Upper Manhattan neighborhoods of Hudson Heights and Inwood before Congestion Pricing goes into effect. 

Parking in these neighborhoods is already extremely difficult. Our streets have become subsidiary parking lots for New Jersey, Connecticut, and Westchester residents who find them convenient to the George Washington Bridge, the Henry Hudson parkway, and the Deegan. These commuters park on our streets for free and take public transit to their downtown jobs. With Congestion Pricing going into effect, we are concerned that even more non-residents will be circling our blocks in search of parking, adding to the morning and evening congestion already clogging our streets, and taking space from those of us who pay increasing rents and considerable taxes to live in these neighborhoods. 


Most major cities such as Boston, Washington DC, Paris, and London have permitted residential parking that is designed to meet the needs of constituent residents and additional stakeholders, such as neighborhood employees, over the desires of outsiders. They charge modest permit fees that become important municipal revenue streams to support local infrastructure needs. 

Permitted parking prioritizes city residents over commuters. With it, our streets will be safer, less congested, and better functioning. Our regional air quality will improve with the reduced idling of engines, allowing for greater health outcomes. Residential permit parking will also encourage more public transit ridership across the tri-state area, enabling greater Congestion Pricing success. It will advance our city climate action goals and increase resident quality of life.



Now is the time to act before Congestion Pricing goes into effect! We urge you to help us and our fellow residents maintain our rights to healthier, safer, better-functioning, and better-funded streets.