THERE'S A LARGER ISSUE IN THE PARKING DISPUTE.(MAIN)

Byline: JAMES E. CLOSE Mechanicville

Lost within the protracted debate over parking in downtown Albany is any meaningful debate over the larger issue of automobiles and urban society.

The downtown Albany parking issue is, and always has been, an opportunity for the state and the unions to collaborate on innovative solutions to the problem of too many people wanting to drive their cars to work.

The framework for discussion between the Public Employees Federation and other union, the state and the city of Albany should not be ``How can we make more parking available?'' Rather, it should be, ``How can we reduce the number of cars clogging the streets …