As Greenport’s paid parking program continues to generate debate among residents and business owners, Village Trustee Mary Bess Phillips is urging the community to view the issue through a broader fiscal lens.
In the following guest commentary, Phillips reflects on her own past opposition to metered parking and explains why she now believes the village must embrace new revenue sources to address mounting infrastructure needs. Her remarks come amid growing calls from some residents for permit relief and other accommodations under the village’s expanded parking system, which officials have defended as a way to fund sidewalk, street and public-space improvements without relying solely on property taxes.
For those who may not know the history: during the [former mayor David] Nyce administration — and in my first term as Village Trustee — we attempted to implement a metered parking plan. The proposal failed, and at the time, I voted no. I’ve never hidden that. But I am now in my fifth term, and with the benefit of years of experience, I can say clearly that the conditions facing Greenport today are not the conditions of a decade ago.
Every day, the Village Board hears the same concerns: the sidewalks need repair, the streets need resurfacing, the infrastructure needs attention. These concerns are real. They are valid. And they are not inexpensive. Safe sidewalks, smooth roads, clean public spaces are not luxuries. They are the basic services residents deserve.
But here is the truth we must face together: the cost of maintaining a village as busy and as heavily used as Greenport can no longer fall solely on the shoulders of local taxpayers.
Greenport is a destination. We are proud of that. But with popularity comes wear and tear — on our streets, on our sidewalks, on our public services. The intensification of use comes from everyone who enjoys this village, not just the people who live here. And if we want level sidewalks, pothole‑free streets, and clean, safe public spaces, then we must generate revenue from sources beyond property taxes.
That is why metered parking must be reconsidered not as a burden, but as a tool — a way to ensure that visitors contribute to the infrastructure they use. It is a practical, fair, and widely used method of funding municipal services in communities just like ours.
I understand the hesitation. I once shared it. But leadership means adjusting when circumstances change. And Greenport has changed. Our needs have grown, our usage has intensified, and our infrastructure is showing the strain.
It is time to be honest with ourselves: without new revenue, the repairs residents demand will remain out of reach. Metered parking is not the entire solution, but it is a necessary part of it.
Greenport deserves safe sidewalks, smooth streets, and a clean, well‑maintained village center. And we deserve a funding model that reflects the reality of who uses our village — and who should help pay to maintain it.