HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/7/2023 Item 6a, Orton
Colunga-Lopez, Andrea
Chloe Orton Cartnal <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Parking
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Hi,
I have a serious bone to pick with whoever decided to make parking $4 an hour throughout downtown SLO.
Not only is that highway robbery, but businesses are suffering as a result. Just in the past couple weeks SLO
has lost multiple businesses-Big Sky, Splash, Creeky Tiki, etc for reasons likely related to customers not
wanting to pay for parking as well as repercussions from Covid and an ever changing economy. The business
that I work for downtown is lucky it is still open as we get people coming in daily asking to exchange cash for
quarters just so they can pay their fee to shop. Many customers have had to leave earlier than they’d like and
others are repeatedly checking their meters out of fear they’ll get a $45-$100 ticket. SLO was once voted the
happiest city in America, but I just don’t see that anymore. On the street that I work, there are now built in
parking spots that take over half a lane and confuse drivers on the daily. Every day I hear cursing and horns
honking and have to remind people it’s not a lane with stalled cars, but rather people parked so they don’t have
to pay. This genius invention was created to cater to the bikers but in the two years I’ve worked there I haven’t
seen a single biker come through. Now, I understand the need to protect bikers as someone I know was killed
by a drunk driver, but removing whole lanes to do so and inconveniencing businesses and regular everyday
people trying to shop is not the way to do it. On top of that, there is talk of building a new parking garage. First
of all, why? We already have multiple fully functioning parking garages. Second, if it’s expensive like the
parking meters or worse, no one is going to want to pay for it. Third, there are so many other roads and areas
in this city that are in desperate need of repair and yet you are turning a blind eye because money matters
more than making the town safe. This continues to be an uphill battle and I am extremely frustrated by the lack
of understanding and compassion towards the people that call this beautiful town home. An elderly man makes
a comment at a meeting and you tell him it’s never too late to learn how to ride a bike. Really? That’s how we
treat people now? I hope-though I don’t count on it-that you take my letter and others to heart and start making
decisions that are going to benefit, not harm our community. Thank you!
Sincerely, Chloe Orton
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