Maturo Spells Out His Position On East Haven Beach Parking Flap

EAST HAVEN, CT - The hottest issue in East Haven these days is the topic of parking at the East Haven Town Beach. Seems like everyone but Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr. has expressed an opinion on the issue - until now.

Maturo, asked by Patch his thoughts on the issue, including whether to charge for parking spaces, had this to say:

'I am not in favor of charging to park in our beach parking lots. We only have approximately 170 spaces. These spaces are also shared with residents who use Momauguin School ballfield.

"The money we would collect would not be worth taking parking spots away from our own taxpayers and residents. Plus it would invite more people from around the state to a very small beach area.

"The towns that do charge have miles of beachfront and/or have very large parking areas such as West Haven or Lighthouse (in New Haven).

"We are more like Branford which has limited parking only for its residents.

"We only have a small problem on holidays and every election year it is used by candidates to pontificate. It is not worth the problem it would create."