Nyack Merchant, Lawmakers Feud Over Parking

Marianne Olive says may be aiding daytime businesses, but evening and late-night merchants are suffering.

"My business dropped off by 30 percent since the parking went into effect," said Olive, who owns the bar and two other shops, and .

Olive spoke to village lawmakers late last week, blasting the new policy in a back-and-forth that also touched on late-night noise, miffed neighbors and outdoor dining hours.

"You're cutting our legs off," Olive continued. "None of you [trustees] are in business in Nyack… you don’t know how this parking affects peoples' livelihood."

Nyack's new parking policy switched paid times to 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Jen Laird-White, Nyack's mayor, implemented the change—and said Olive's qualms are unfounded.

"We're asking late-night patrons to feed the meters like every other business' patrons," she said. "It does not seem unreasonable."

The debate soon shifted to loud nights. Trustee Louise Parker noted late-night customers often keep residents up at night.

"I live in Nyack Plaza, and I've heard it," she said, referring to the shouting and music that comes from weekend revelers. "I had to get out of bed to see where the noise was coming from."

Olive suggested her and other merchants with late hours team up to create a restaurant association that works to keep the streets cleaner and quieter. Behind Olive at the legislative session were employees from and .

"It's a few people causing trouble, not a huge amount," Olive said. "We'll [punish] the people that are doing damage."

But Laird-White said the idea of a restaurant association is an old one that never got wind in its sails. As a result, Laird-White said, the new parking policy was implemented.

The village is beginning a new approach to sentencing revelers caught breaking windows or urinating publically, too—offenders will have to carry out community service cleaning up downtown streets.