At 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 9 there were 19 reserved spots open, and that was not counting the handicap spaces, in the lot behind town hall. There was not one spot for a local resident to park their car in. In spite of our being told that Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto is working on the problem of parking in Oyster Bay, so far, it is only lip service.

Read my lips - nothing has happened in the years we have been reporting for the newspaper - that means since 1985.

When he was supervisor, Angelo Delligatti said the spaces went with jobs in town. They were perks that became part of the package offered to town employees. It is something no one has been able to negotiate it seems. There is just the arrogance of people who believe the town is theirs to use as they see fit. No one has been able to move the unshakable "owners" of the town.

We believe the town does not have the right to put up signs taking parking spaces. We believe they do not own the parking lot - it is not a private parking lot, it is a public parking lot. There are private parking lots in town where the owners have the right to keep the public from parking there. We believe that is not so with the public lots. We believe their actions should be challenged.

At the Thursday, Feb. 5 meeting of the Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce, Marie Knight, president of the Oyster Bay Civic Association urged David Sargoy to "tell his parking story." He was reporting on a new Jericho firm that is moving to Oyster Bay.

David Sargoy of Brown, Harris, Stevens, the company that is marketing the vacant stores in Oyster Bay said they have had potential customers for the vacant stores in town, but that when they come to meet with him, they can't find a parking spot and leave town. Why open a business in a town where there is no parking?

He said, "A lot of business is lost to the community. We have retailers who are interested but there is no parking. People come in and out and they see what we are facing. So, we will be very supportive of what is being done about parking."

It would appear that he too has heard about changes in the parking in town. Well, it's been a long time waiting, hasn't it.

- DFK