English only parking signs affecting some businesses in Bay Shore

BAY SHORE, Long Island (WABC) -- Some say using the parking meters on Main Street is confusing enough, even if you speak English. But if you don't, good luck.

In Bay Shore, Long Island one in four residents is Latino. But the parking regulations, not to mention the instructions on how to use the town's new electronic parking system, are in English.

In fact.. the only bilingual signs we found were in the windows of the local medical clinic where the waiting room was empty. And doctors say many patients have stopped showing up.

"We used to see between 100,200 patients a day, now we're down to 70," said Dr Estella Vanegas of Quest Medical Center.

Dr Vanegas says many of her patients are frustrated and confused. She's worried that some may be going elsewhere for treatment or even worse.. not getting treatment at all.

"The first question is should we pay for parking, how much are paying for how long. They seem very confused," said Dr. Estella Vanegas.

Not all downtown businesses have seen an impact. And the town has no immediate plans to add new signs or to change the signs they already have. Some people we spoke with said that's too bad.

"We have some sort of obligation to these people to be able to understand, and also to the business population," said one man.

"I'm not crazy about creating a bilingual society, however the businesses do need that kind of support," another man said.

Dr. Vanegas said the clinic had to lay off several people due to the dropoff in business.