Letters to the Editor, March 28

Would have preferred to learn about parking app in newspaper

To the Editor:

I am second to none in my admiration for The Recorder and its focus on local news. That said, I would have preferred to find out from you about the town of Bedford’s decision to replace its station parking charge mechanism with an app before I arrived at 6:05 a.m. last Tuesday at Lot 2 on Woods Bridge in Katonah to catch the 6:19 a.m. train to Grand Central. 

Apparently this change took place at the beginning of March, plenty of time for my favorite local news source to give occasional commuters like me a head’s up. 

Instead, I had to (a) download the app, (b) sign up for the app and choose a password, (c) walk back to my car to record my license plate number as well as the number of the parking spot, and (d) give them credit card information (no American Express!) in the predawn darkness.

I made the train just as the doors were about to close.

Those payment machines which the app has replaced were not exactly gifts from God. They were slow and half the time one of them was out of order. (And of course, no Amex!) But if I had known about the change I could have downloaded and set up the app in advance. 

Anyway, I hope your readers (and fellow occasional commuters) are now forewarned.

Jeff Schwartz

Katonah

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Fire chief seeking support for firehouse expansion, renovations

To the Editor:

As a volunteer firefighter for 17 years and a Pound Ridge resident for 31 years, I am proud to be serving Pound Ridge as the fire chief. Our all-volunteer force is here for you 24-7-365, and we need your support for the firehouse expansion and renovation to continue to provide the highest quality protection for you and your family. 

The last firehouse update was in 1991. In order to continue to operate safely and house the equipment, we need this project. We are at 200 percent capacity for our equipment and do not have space to comply with current safety standards to protect our firefighters.

Details can be viewed at poundridgefiredistrict.com, including the dates and times of public information sessions and tours before the vote. We’d love to show you around the firehouse and explain why your vote to authorize the supplemental funding needed will help ensure the project gets done correctly.

On April 8, please vote YES for the additional bond. We’re counting on you like you count on us.

Vincent Zafonte 

Chief, Pound Ridge Fire Department