NUMC, neighbors take on parking

NUMC President Arthur Gianelli acknowledged that the problem is caused by the hospital and said he wants to rectify the situation as soon as possible. His plan to create more parking, however, will not go into effect until early 2012.

About 40 residents who live near the hospital attended a parking-focused meeting Monday night at NUMC to discuss new rules the hospital has implemented to try to solve the problem.

The tension increased over the summer when the facility’s parking garage was declared unsafe and mechanical parking lifts were set up near the hospital entrance to create additional spots. “In theory, if everyone used the stackers, there would be enough spaces,” Gianelli said. But he admitted that this option has not been as effective as he had hoped. Almost 25 percent of hospital employees are parking on neighborhood streets instead of using the lifts, he said.

Employees have told Gianelli that they do not want to pay for parking, they do not like leaving their cars in other people’s hands — which is necessary when they use the lifts — and they do not want to waste time during their lunch breaks picking up their vehicles.

Gianelli has implemented new parking rules since he met with residents last month. All hospital employees are now required to register their cars with the hospital and place parking stickers on their front windshields. They can also call ahead to get their car during lunch hours.

Residents at the meeting said they appreciate Gianelli’s efforts, but added that the new rules are not being enforced. “It’s not working,” said Yvonne Amato, shaking her head. Hospital employees are still parking on First, Second, Franklin and Roosevelt streets, among others.

When another resident suggested that hospital public safety officers simply walk down the street and enforce the rules, Amato said that a public safety officer is one of the many employees parking on her block. “They’re the ones who are supposed to be enforcing the rules,” she said.

Residents also complained about increased parking congestion and impolite hospital employees and patients. “If there’s a snowstorm, I’m not going to get plowed because [employees] are parking there all day long,” said John Nikiel. “We don’t own the street, but we pay taxes to fix, plow and sweep the street. I haven’t seen a street sweeper in weeks.”

“I realize that just because it’s legal to do something doesn’t mean it’s right to do something,” Gianelli added.

“They get nasty with you when you confront them,” said Patricia Glacken, recounting that a young man and his girlfriend, who were headed to the clinic, were loud and rude when she confronted them. Glacken said she was unable to leave her driveway because of the patient’s illegally parked car.

While residents are displeased by the parking congestion, the real issue, they say, is safety. “Every day I see the school bus making the widest turn onto First Street,” said Amato. According to state law, drivers must leave 30 feet between their car and a stop sign and must obey parking signs. But the laws are not being enforced, residents said.

“They’re blatantly saying, ‘Come catch me,’” said Fiore Federico, who has lived in East Meadow for 52 years. “Roosevelt Avenue is going downhill.”

Many residents agreed that parking laws are not being enforced. “Police are not even responding to 911 calls,” Federico said. Last week, he added, he called at 7 a.m. to report illegally parked cars, but he had to call back four hours later because no one had responded.

“An impression needs to be made on the precinct,” said Hempstead Town Councilman Gary Hudes, who attended the meeting. “You see them, you issue the summons.”

Hudes was at Gianelli’s first meeting with residents, and to help enforce parking regulations, he had roughly 20 faded parking signs replaced and added five new corner clearance signs.

Residents are also asking police to monitor the parking situation throughout the day. “They’re trying,” said Nikiel, who said he sees the police every morning, but the problem worsens as the day goes on. “They need to be there in the afternoon, not after people get off work.”

County Legislator Norma Gonsalves was unable to attend Monday’s meeting because of an emergency legislative meeting, but she said she would contact the inspectors at the Nassau County Police Department’s 1st and 3rd precincts. “We need to get someone out there to mark tires,” she said.

There were no precinct representatives at the meeting, and Gonsalves said, “I was hoping the hospital would follow up and invite them, but I will get a response one way or another.”

She said she is planning to organize a meeting that would include Gianelli, the inspectors, Hudes and herself. “I will make sure that there is a resolution,” Gonsalves said.

In the meantime, Gianelli has instituted a plan to create 230 new parking spaces on hospital property by the end of the year. He explained that the hospital would pay to demolish unused buildings, is asking the county for permission to create more spaces close to the Nassau County Correctional Center and has set aside some grassy areas as parking areas.

“I don’t want it to look like blacktop city,” said Patricia McKinnon. But Gianelli assured her that this is a short-term solution.

While residents and hospital staff alike would like to see the dilapidated parking garage repaired, Gianelli said that the hospital does not have the funding to do so right now. “I want it done as much as you guys do,” he said.

He added that discussions are under way with private developers. “That is a couple-year project,” he said. “We’ve identified every inch of square space to park in the interim.”

Hudes said that Gianelli deserves “a great amount of credit.” Gianelli said he wants to continue the dialogue with neighbors as the medical center campus undergoes future renovations, and that he will address problems as they arise. He plans to host another parking-focused meeting in three weeks.