Community Expresses Concern Over Parking Ramps
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Jamestown City Council's Public Safety Committee got an earful during Monday's meeting from various city and county workers, parking ramp users, and concerned citizens about the status of the parking garages.
With crime being reported across the city's various parking garages, council meeting attendees wanted to know what is going to be done.
"I have several employees who park at the city's parking garage and several of them are afraid to park there," said Carol Wright, a clinical director with the Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene who has more than 45 employees who work in Jamestown and park in the various parking garages. "They (garages) smell like urine and feces, people can be found sleeping in them and there's hypodermic needles laying all around -- I'm concerned."
Sarah Zinni, an employee with the county Department of Mental Hygiene and works on the fifth floor of the Jamestown Municipal Building, reported several thousand dollars' worth of damage to her vehicle which was parked at the Spring Street parking garage on Aug. 2. Zinni shared her story with The Post-Journal last week. In addition to her vehicle, Zinni said she was told at least eight other vehicles had been vandalized in about a week.
"I had my back window smashed out, my front window was hit and cracked in several places, the fender on my passenger side was kicked-in and the other side of my car had scratches up and down it," Zinni said.
When questioned about the criminal acts, Jamestown's top cop stated the police department made several recommendations a while back.
"The police department made several recommendations, back on Nov. 21 at a 10 a.m. meeting," said Police Chief Tim Jackson. "Suggestions, like posting signage stating, 'No Trespassing' or 'Official Business Only,' adding security cameras and better lighting."
Moreover, with the parking ramps under new management, things have only gotten worse, he said.
"I've added more patrols and random checks at the various ramps," Jackson said. "However, just like private property, we need the signage or a complainant to request the removal of individuals loitering."
He added, "We continually kick people out of the ramp. They're sleeping in there. They're shooting up in there. They're defecating in the ramp. We cannot hold these people accountable because the signs I recommended on Nov. 21 have still not been purchased."
This fact was not lost with some of the meeting's concerned individuals.
"The police chief told us what he needs, and we haven't helped him," said Doug Champ, a concerned Jamestown resident. "We need to give our police, firefighters and public safety officials the tools they need to do their jobs. This falls on us, city council and the current administration."
Additionally, with the resent acceptance by the Jamestown City Council of the U.S. Department of Justic, Bureau of Justice Assistance, 2023 Edward Byrne Memorial Fund Grant, could the city use some of these monies to facilitate the placement of cameras in the various city garages, inquired one meeting attendee?
"Can we add or buy some cameras from the grant we just got," asked Champ? "Is that allowed?"
Mayor Eddie Sundquist said signs for the ramp have been ordered. He added that quotes for cameras and lighting in the Spring and Cherry Street ramps came in two weeks ago.
"The lowest bid for both lighting and cameras for both ramps is $246,498.51," he said. "I will say that I'm very sympathetic for some of the things that are going on in the ramps. I do know, and can tell you, that a lot of the issues we've been experiencing in those ramps is from juveniles."
Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel on Tuesday released a statement about the parking ramps in Jamestown.
"While I'm pleased to hear the City of Jamestown is considering additional security measures, like surveillance cameras and added lighting at the Spring Street parking ramp, the uptick in crime in the heart of downtown Jamestown has been a problem for years," he said. "It's disappointing that additional measures are being considered only after acts of violence and vandalism towards not just Chautauqua County employees who patronize the parking structure, but also the general public, makes headline news across our community. My administration is scheduled to meet with city representatives in September to try and resolve these safety concerns going forward."