Massapequa Park Split On New Parking Sensors

It depends on who you ask, but the general consensus about the new parking sensors along Park Boulevard, residents say it’s too new to tell if it’s a good or bad idea.

For Peter Mangouranes, the installation of the parking sensors is all about safety and it’s as simple as that.

“It’s not like they are put in areas where you should be parking at anyway,” he said. “They have them in at crosswalks and other no parking zones… like near fire hydrants and at the end of the street. It’s for everyone’s safety and I’m all for that.”

Mangouranes, the owner of The Good Life in Massapequa Park, said he is in favor of the town’s decision to install several hockey puck-sized devices to monitor vehicles parked illegally. He hasn’t heard his customers complain about parking tickets or being monitored by the town. In fact, he doesn’t believe it will hinder his business or customer parking habits at all.

“I had one customer who got a ticket, but he knew he was parked in a place he probably shouldn’t have been," he said. "Nobody has flipped out about it."

Armando Cortes, Manager of the IGA grocery store agrees. He said he hasn’t heard customers talk about whether or not it’s a good or bad idea, but he admits it’s still a little too new for people to form an opinion either way.

“I remember people talking about it the first day they installed it,” Cortes said. “No one has complained about it yet, but I am sure they will be.”

“I don’t think it will affect my business at all because we have been here for decades and we have parking in the back,” he explains. “But some of the other businesses may have to worry because people usually just run in and out for those businesses. If I were them, I would be a little skeptical.”

Cortes added that once people realize the sensors are there for safety and not profit, the backlash may not be as bad in the end.

Subway manager Sunny, who declined to give his last name, said he already has concerns about business being affected by the parking sensors.

“Customers just want to stop by and grab lunch and go,” Sunny said. “But if they think they’re going to get a ticket, they won’t do that and that won’t be good for me.”

Massapequa Park resident William Barnes was at the Park Blvd Deli and said he thinks this idea is just another way for the town to get more money out of the residents who park on the street.

"If it’s for safety, then more power to it,” Barnes said. “Personally, I just think it’s just another way for [the town] to get more money out of us. Massapequa Park is one of the worst towns known for giving out parking violations.”