Newburgh's new cashless parking system is a concern for some

CITY OF NEWBURGH — When the city replaced the aging coin-operated parking meters with cashless parking kiosks, it sparked conversations across Newburgh about the potential ramifications.

“Many things that are made to potentially simplify and improve our lives in this day and age of technology can be really great,” said Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier, executive director of Fearless! Hudson Valley. “But certainly, they can also have unintended consequences or risk for victims, survivors and others.”

Fearless! Hudson Valley is an Orange County-based nonprofit with an office in Newburgh that offers a variety of services to victims of domestic abuse.

“Just like telephones and GPS tracking devices, these are the kinds of technology which create all sorts of breadcrumbs leading to our location ... Having to use some sort of app or credit card creates an additional breadcrumb that you never had to consider with the quarter,” she said.

Kostyal-Larrier and others said they understand the need for new parking meters, but the lack of a cash option could negatively impact victims of domestic violence, people with low income, undocumented people and anyone who doesn’t have a bank account.

“I am just concerned that not everyone has the ability to use or access a credit card or has a bank account. That definitely can be a barrier and challenge for anyone, regardless of whether or not they're a victim of violence,” Kostyal-Larrier said.

Installing the new meters

The city has been considering cashless parking meters for more than three years, according to Mayor Torrance Harvey.

“We had 780 meters throughout the city of Newburgh, so metering the city is not anything new, but 85 to 90 percent of the meters didn't work,” Harvey said. “We had to replace them because the revenue was so minimal it was almost none.”

After three years of conversations, feasibility studies and research, Harvey said the city finally installed the new parking meters in the business corridor along Broadway, Grand, Liberty and Prospect streets on Aug. 8. There are also kiosks located at the boat launch on River Road.

The kiosks are operated by the company Passport, and they can be paid by card or through the Passport smartphone app. The new system charges 25 cents every 15 minutes in addition to a 15-cent surcharge.

The revenue from the new meters, Harvey said, will be used to fund various programs including youth programs, street-sweeping programs, housing programs and employment programs.

"If we can innovatively and creatively create new revenue streams or improve the revenue streams that are existing, like a parking meter program, then we can continue to upgrade and revitalize our city,” he said.

The decision to go with completely cashless kiosks managed by a third-party vendor, Harvey said, also eliminates any risk of city employees stealing coins or improperly managing the money.

Unintended consequences

The new cashless parking system, Kostyal-Larrier said, is undeniably convenient for many people. Paying through an app or with a card can eliminate common inconveniences like struggling to find change or having to run back to the car to add more time to the meter.

However, Kostyal-Larrier pointed out that the new meters could pose a threat to victims of domestic abuse. Some abusers, she said, have access to their partner’s bank account and would be able to utilize this new payment system to keep tabs on their partner’s location.

“This is just an additional layer for victims who are often stalked, harassed and pursued by their current or former intimate partner,” Kostyal-Larrier said. “So I think the biggest thing is that if this is the direction we're going, then we need to mitigate to the best of our ability some of the additional risks that could be introduced for victims and survivors.”

At Fearless!, Kostyal-Larrier said that means the organization now plans to discuss alternative parking options with those who seek services at the Newburgh office and walk them through the pros and cons of paying with a card or through an app.

Michele McKeon, chief operating officer of the nonprofit Regional Economic Community Action Program (RECAP), said the new payment system could also pose challenges for people with low income or who are unable to get a bank card.

"We support, of course, bringing revenue into the city, but we don't want it done on the backs of the people who can least afford it and will probably use it most," McKeon said.

People might not have bank accounts or credit cards for a variety of reasons, McKeon said, including bad credit, lack of appropriate identification or not enough income.

Lisa Tompkins, a longtime Newburgh resident, said she prefers the older coin-operated parking meters to the new cashless kiosks.

"I know it's gentrification," she said. "What if you don't have enough money to have a card? It seems like they are pushing people out."

Mikey Jackson, the owner of 2 Alices Coffee Lounge on Broadway, said he supports updating the city's parking meters but feels there are multiple issues to be worked out before the new metering program is perfected.

Since the new parking meters went live earlier this month, Harvey said he's been shocked to hear numerous people voice concerns about the cashless system's potential impact on domestic abuse victims, people without bank accounts and others.

While it's frustrating that these concerns were not brought forward sooner, Harvey said, he wants the parking meters to work for as many people as possible.

"We serve the will of the people here. Nothing is written in stone. That is why we were elected: to listen and serve the people," he said.

Erin Nolan is an investigative reporter for the Times Herald-Record and USA Today Network. Reach her at enolan@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Newburgh's new cashless parking kiosks draw criticism