The event – held at Jersey Mike’s Subs, operated by Norman and Carol Greco, who organized the rally – resulted in the formation of the Westfield Action Group.

Reached on Wednesday morning, Mr. Greco said the "passionate" response from attendees led to raising between $25,000 and $30,000 – $10,000 from one individual alone.

Mr. Greco said the "inability and ineffectiveness" of the Downtown Westfield Corporation (DWC) and the Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce (WACC) has led to the situation.

"They (DWC, WACC) don’t help us," Mr. Greco said. "We have no advocate. We need to be represented."

He also laid blame on the town council.

"The council says the downtown is not a concern of theirs. Well, let me tell you – we exist, and we’re suffering," Mr. Greco added. "The town doesn’t do a thing for us. They just want money from us."

Members of the Westfield Action Group hope to involve additional colleagues and residents from across town in self-funded initiatives, including exploring a poster campaign, newspaper ads and joint appearances at town meetings – all aimed at opposing the town council’s proposal to raise overtime parking fees from the current $20 to $32, with a provision allowing for future increases up to $50.

"This fight – and that’s what it is – is for all of us," said Mr. Greco. He said the town is "overzealous in its ticketing," which could turn Westfield into a "ghost town."

"I want to be in business here; [the town is] discouraging people from coming down here," said Mr. Greco. "What do you want to come to this town for if you get a ticket for $50?"

Local business people at Tuesday night’s rally were eager to speak their minds, as well.

Theresa Martinho of the Westfield Hair Co. suggested exploring a class-action lawsuit to block the town from increasing parking fines so drastically. "They’re ruining my business, and I’m not going to lay down for it," she said.

"If we want to implement change quickly, we need to show up in numbers [at town hall]," said downtown property owner Michael Blancato. "We have to work as partners together to win this battle," he said, adding that the mayor and council "live in an ivory tower right now."

"If this crowd ever showed up at city hall, they would have a heart attack," agreed former business owner Tim Harrington.

Andrew Arkin of Adlers Jewlers said, "We’ll be done" if parking fines go up as much as proposed.

"People do not come back to my store after getting a ticket, and that’s at $20 [per fine]…imagine if it was $50," he said.

Joe Spector, who owns the Leader Store, said current parking fine enforcement policies often result in a "negative first experience" for people coming downtown to shop.

"We’re shooting ourselves in the foot…we are second to New Brunswick in the number of parking tickets [issued]," he said.

David Martone, former DWC chairman, when reached Wednesday morning, did not want to comment on the event but said figures quoted at the meeting, such as the amount of tickets issued in 2007, were taken out of proportion.

"You can cut through rhetoric with facts," Mr. Martone said, adding that there was "only a 5-percent increase in tickets issued from 2006 to 2007."

Reached on Wednesday morning, Gary Goodman, chairman of the WACC, said, "One can understand the anger [of business owners in town]. I believe the role of the chamber is to reflect the views of its constituents to the mayor and council."

He said the Chamber is in opposition to raising the penalties on parking tickets and that the town should not "be in the parking business."

Mr. Goodman called the feelings expressed on Tuesday "honestly felt beliefs" and said the town should focus on "facilitating a healthy downtown," not "seeing if it can maximize its revenue."

He said the council "takes for granted the viability of downtown Westfield" and should not "play games with it."

Downtown businessman Gary Whitman echoed those sentiments at the rally.

"Somewhere along the line, the town got into the parking business," he said. "They really want to see how much revenue can be generated," he said.

Downtown merchants said current parking ticket enforcement policies are discouraging employees, as well as customers.

Mayor Andy Skibitsky, reached Wednesday morning, responded to comments made about the vibrancy of downtown Westfield.

"First of all, the parking infrastructure did support a healthy downtown until the economic downturn," he said. "We had record property sale prices and lease rates when the economy was healthy."

The mayor said the condition of the state economy and the increases in mandated costs has lead to decisions such as the one to raise parking ticket fines.

"Municipalities, like businesses, are not immune from the [poor] economic conditions," he said. "We need to figure out how to cut expenses and increase revenue. We’re working hard to balance the needs of all constituencies."

On the threats of people, upon receiving tickets, not returning to town, the mayor said he receives "one letter a year" from a citizen saying he or she will not come back to Westfield.

"I don’t think that’s a sign of a major problem," the mayor said.

In discussing next steps, Mr. Greco said cash pledges made Tuesday night by action group members will be collected in a new bank account, while options for creating a website, posters, public involvement meeting attendance, and follow-ups are planned.

Mr. Greco also said the group wants the town to "roll back" the hourly parking rate from $0.50 to the old $0.25 rate, noting that the higher rate was enacted as part of subsequently cancelled plans to build a downtown parking deck.

Overall, when commenting Wednesday morning, Mr. Greco said the evening was an inspiring success.

"I was impressed…a baby was born, so to speak," he said. "I’m very excited."