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Photo Courtesy Of A Reader
After Dannel P. Malloy dropped into New Haven to hear local business concerns, he left town the way a lot of other visitors do — with a parking ticket.
The governor paid a visit to New Haven Thursday to meet with the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce on the second floor of the exclusive Quinnipiack Club at 221 Church St. The meeting took place at noon.
Malloy’s driver, a state trooper, parked the governor’s black Lincoln Towncar right outside the Q Club entrance, just a block from downtown’s historic Green.
From left: Rescigno, Smith, Malloy.
Inside the club, Malloy and his new commissioner of the revamped Department of Economic and Community Development, Catherine Smith, sat at the head of a U‑shaped table next to Anthony Rescigno, head of the chamber.
Over plates of grilled chicken salad, Malloy and Smith listened to answers to the question: What can the state do to better support New Haven’s business community? The bulk of the meeting was closed to the press, despite the fact that Malloy’s office issued a release inviting reporters to come. Malloy later reported that discussion focused on Tweed-New Haven Airport and a planned parking garage at Union Station. He promised to help finally move creation of a second garage at the station, a project that has languished during three administrations over two decades while frustrated commuters have had to park far enough away to need to take an extra bus in order to catch a train..
Contributed Photo
When the governor came out, he got a taste of New Haven parking agita— a neat orange envelope tucked under his passenger-side windshield wiper.
It was a $30 parking ticket, according to governor’s spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan.
“Our parking enforcement officers strive to treat everyone equally,” said city spokesman Adam Joseph Thursday afternoon.
“The governor or his driver have 15 days to appeal the ticket,” Joseph added. Anyone who gets a parking ticket in New Haven can pay or appeal the ticket through the city’s website, he said.
Or, if they prefer, Malloy and other fellow ticket recipients can download and fill out a hard copy appeal form and mail it to the city traffic department, Joseph offered.
The gubernatorial Towncar had been sticking half-way into a no-parking zone, which is marked off to give firefighters access to a fire hydrant. Two signs on either side of the spot read “No Parking Anytime.” The car wasn’t blocking the hydrant; it was just a few feet away.
The fine for parking within 10 feet of a hydrant is $50. Malloy was tagged for the lesser offense of parking in a no-parking zone.
From left: ASSA ABLOY CEO Thanasis Molokotos, Malloy, Sargent general manager Dave DeLacey.
The Towncar then headed to ASSA ABLOY on Sargent Drive, home of the city’s storied 147-year-old manufacturing company, which is now focusing on doors and locks. The company, which employs 1,000 people statewide, invited him for a factory tour. Then the parties discussed how to make sure the company is not “written out of” construction bids on state projects such as on the UConn Health Center.
After the tour, Malloy was asked if he intends to pay his parking ticket.
“That’s up to these guys,” Malloy said, referring to state Trooper Gary Williams, his driver for the day. “I don’t park.”
Who would pay the ticket?
“I don’t know, somebody,” Malloy replied. “See you later.”
Trooper Williams (at right in photo) opened the passenger side door for Malloy, who got in. Williams got behind the wheel and hit the highway.
About one hour later, at 3:41 p.m., governor’s aide Arielle Reich emailed the Independent with an update: The governor had decided to pay for the ticket himself.
“I know you had a question about the parking ticket from earlier today,” Reich wrote. “Just wanted to let you know the governor is paying for it personally. He’s dropping it in the mail today.”