New Brunswick Mayor Candidate Wants To Dissolve Parking Authority

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Charlie Kratovil, the online newspaper reporter who is now running to be New Brunswick mayor, announced his plans this week to dissolve the New Brunswick Parking Authority.

Kratovil is running as an independent against New Brunswick's longtime mayor James Cahill, who has the support of the local Middlesex County Democratic party.

The New Brunswick Parking Authority has had quite a few black eyes in recent years: In 2017, two Parking Authority officials had to appear in front of the New Brunswick Ethics Board after Kratovil filed a complaint against them for failing to properly disclose their public pensions. Also last year, four parking authority employees admitted to stealing more than $500 in parking fees from the city agency.

New Brunswick residents and visitors often complain about the shortage of parking spaces, wildly expensive rates, frequent tickets and confusing parking rules.

“For the past seventy years, New Brunswick has had a parking authority that has actually perpetuated its parking problem. I have a comprehensive plan to relieve this problem by abolishing the NBPA and transitioning to a 21st-century model,” said Kratovil.

Charlie’s proposal follows in the footsteps of other New Jersey communities like Jersey City, Montclair, and Bloomfield.

By dissolving their parking authority, Jersey City saved taxpayers approximately $850,000 per year in redundant management and healthcare costs.

Kratovil wants to create the New Brunswick Department of Transportation instead, which he said will also provide access to public transportation, pedestrian and cyclist safety, taxi service and road repairs.

According to Kravotil, the New Brunswick Parking Authority is also $390 million in debt. New Brunswick Mayor James Cahill has guaranteed to pay it off in its entirety, putting taxpayers on the hook, Kratovil said.

"The NBPA’s recent commercial projects have failed to bring in rental revenue that they were counting on, such as the famous FreshGrocer supermarket, which closed abruptly after failing to pay rent for over a year, and still owes over $1 million to the New Brunswick Parking Authority," said Kratovil. "Brother Jimmy’s BBQ, another NBPA-owned property, shut down abruptly earlier this year, owing the NBPA $82,865. That space sits vacant to this day, generating no revenue and making it harder for the NBPA to pay down their debt."

“The Parking Authority's out-of-control debt is perhaps the most important issue for taxpayers in this election,” said Kratovil. “The next Mayor must make it a priority to tackle this problem in a way that protects our people and ensures the next generation is not saddled with major liabilities or undesirable assets.”

Past Patch reporting on the New Brunswick Parking Authority:

Ethics Hearing Monday For New Brunswick Parking Authority Officials

Four New Brunswick Parking Authority Employees Admit To Theft

Charlie Kratovil holds an Oct. 9, 2018 press conference on his plans to demolish the New Brunswick Parking Authority:

Photo credit: David Allen/Patch