“Everybody is broke - the city should take away some meters to give people a break,” added Brooklyn mechanic John Zarro. Thanks, Mayor Bloomberg,” said tongue-in-cheek Queens construction worker Mariusz Zuba. “It’s expensive in this situation, with people not having work. Higher meter rates have long prevailed below 96th, especially at muni-meters that accept DOT pre-paid debit cards as well as quarters.ĭrivers are upset that the overhaul is being done with little notice, leaving them with expired-meter violations. Next will be 18,042 change-gobblers in Brooklyn, followed in June by 1,733 on Staten Island.īy late June, the remaining 2,744 lowest-rate meters in Manhattan will be converted, almost all above 96th Street. 16 and is already done for all 17,842 meters in Queens, and is under way on 7,138 in The Bronx, Department of Transportation numbers show. The changeover - the first for the lowest-rate meters since 1995 - began on Feb. “If you go to a store and get ticketed faster than before, you don’t want to go back,” he explained. Since the new meters were installed, Xenakis said he’s heard complaints from customers and fellow store owners. “It’s bad timing, it’s a bad economy, and we’re trying to survive,” said Mathew Xenakis, owner of Park Place Florist and Greenery in Woodhaven, Queens. It’s part of Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to raise an additional $16.8 million annually to help close the city’s $4 billion budget gap. Parking-meter feeders are getting less bang for their quarter.Īt 47,000 meters around town, 30 minutes for 25 cents is being reduced to 20 minutes at the same price.

Bitmeter 2 guide