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Transportation & Environment

Resolution in Support of Broadway Unions and Community Board Four’s Request to Modify Curbside Regulations Changes along 9th Avenue from West 42nd Street to West 59th Street/ 60th Street

At the monthly meeting of Community Board Five on Thursday, December 13, 2012, the Board passed the following resolution with a vote of 36 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstaining:

WHEREAS, Manhattan Community Board 4 (CB4) requested in a letter dated November 7, 2012 that the Department of Transportation remove the recently installed 2 hour parking meters  along the west side of 9th Avenue between West 40th Street and West 59th Street and along the east side between West 42nd Street and 59th Street; and

WHEREAS, Although 9th Avenue is not within Community Board Five's boundaries the change in parking does affect many workers who work in Community Board Five in addition to the theaters which are based in Community Board Five; and 

WHEREAS, This change would enable a return to the free parking that existed after 7pm previous to the installation of the bicycle lanes; and 

WHEREAS, Community Board Five has received a petition signed by 2,000 Broadway worker union members and local businesses and this issue was brought to Community Board's Five attention by a coalition of the unions representing performing artists and the Broadway workforce many of whom work in Community Board Five but park along 9th Avenue; and

WHEREAS, Broadway and local musicians, performing artists and workers have been using 9th Avenue for several years because 7pm coincides with their typical required arrival time for evening performances and the time the parking becomes available; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the cost, the two-hour time limit eliminates the ability of the musicians and actors, who typically have performances lasting 3 to 4 hours, to use these spaces.  The musicians often have large and expensive instruments which often require a vehicle to transport; and 

WHEREAS, The unions who have requested this change include:

Actors' Equity Association (AEA)

American Federation of Musicians, Local 802 (AFM)

Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers, Local 18032 (IATSE)

Dramatists Guild

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, International (IATSE)

Makeup Artists Hair Stylists Union Local 798 (IATSE)

Motion Picture Projectionists, Operators. Video Technicians, Theatrical Employees & Allied Crafts, Local 306 (IATSE)

Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SSD&C)

Service Employees International Union, Local 32BJ Theatre Division (SEIU)

Theatrical Protective Union Stage Hands, Local 1 (IATSE)

Theatrical Wardrobe Union, Local 764 (IATSE)

Treasurers & Ticket Sellers Union, Local 751 (IATSE)

Untied Scenic Artists Local 829 (IATSE)

WHEREAS, Community Board Five supports the statement from Community Board Four requesting a review and reconsideration of the parking rules along 9th Avenue; therefore be it

RESOLVED, Community Board Five supports the coalition of Broadway unions and CB4 in their request to DOT to reconsider the changes to the parking regulations along 9th Avenue.

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