Petition for Fair Parking Accommodations Behind Beit Midrash Hachaim VeHashalom

137 Cedarhurst Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516

To the Village of Cedarhurst Officials,

We, the undersigned residents and community members of the Five Towns, respectfully request that the Village review and improve the parking regulations and enforcement practices for the municipal parking lot located behind Beit Midrash Hachaim VeHashalom.

Beit Midrash Hachaim VeHashalom is one of the most active synagogues in the Five Towns community. Throughout the day and late into the evening, the shul hosts continuous prayer services, Torah learning, community gatherings, and religious activities. Minyanim take place throughout the day, often every 15 to 30 minutes, serving hundreds of residents and visitors weekly.

Unfortunately, many worshippers are forced to divide their attention between prayer and concerns about parking enforcement. It is not uncommon for individuals attending religious services to return to their vehicles and find parking tickets waiting for them. This creates unnecessary stress and distracts from the purpose of attending a house of worship.

We respectfully request that the Village consider one or more of the following solutions:

• Designate the lot behind Beit Midrash Hachaim VeHashalom as free parking during prayer service hours.

• Provide a reasonable grace period for worshippers attending religious services.

• Upgrade parking meters to accept credit cards and mobile app payments, consistent with modern parking systems used throughout Nassau County and neighboring communities.

• Create a permit, validation, or exemption program for individuals attending religious services.

• Work directly with synagogue leadership and community representatives to establish a practical long-term solution.

We recognize and respect the Village’s responsibility to regulate parking and maintain municipal revenue. However, we believe reasonable accommodations should be made for a location that serves as a central religious institution for thousands of community members.

At a minimum, if free parking cannot be provided, the Village should modernize the payment system to allow mobile app and credit card payments, making compliance easier for residents and visitors.

We respectfully ask the Village to review this matter and work together with the community toward a fair and reasonable solution.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned Residents and Community Members of the Five Towns