HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/7/2023 Item 6a, Indvik
Martin and Denise Indvik <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:comments on parking
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Hi City Council,
First of all, thank you for your hard work on behalf of San Luis Obispo. I'm writing as someone who has loved this town
for more than 30 years, and also as someone who specifically loves our downtown. Worry for the future sustainability
and vibrancy of this heart of SLO has prompted me to write this message. Here is my concern:
My behavior has changed. I love downtown, have money to spend on goods and entertainment, socialize frequently,
have a "shop local" ethic, and don't mind walking a block or so to park....but I have become one of those "let's avoid
downtown" people for the first time in three decades. Why? The expense and hassle of downtown parking has tipped
me over an edge I was already teetering due to the pronounced increase in the aggressive homeless population. When
there are so many great options for food, coffee, live music, and goods and services right here in SLO that have ample
free parking, don't require a tempermental app on my phone, and rarely are accompanied by a profanity spewing
transient...it almost never makes sense to choose downtown as my destination. This makes me SAD and worried
for the future of our downtown.
I suggest we join Paso Robles and similar college town Davis in their preservation of the 2 hour free downtown parking
policy. I would be infinitely more likely to choose downtown if I wanted to meet a friend for coffee at Kreuzberg, browse
HumanKind for holiday gifts, have a glass of wine at Saints Barrel, grab a bite at Urbane Cafe on my lunch hour, take a
peek at Just Looking Gallery, buy a scone to go from Linnea's, or any of the other wonderful ways that I have patronized
local businesses over the years if my first thought wasn't always, "ugh, where am I going to park, and how much is it
going to cost??".
Instead, in the last 2 weeks I have had lunch at Lincoln Deli, met a friend at Lucy's Coffee, made plans to have a drink at
Krobar, ordered takeout from Taco Roco, and went out to a special occasion dinner with my husband in Paso Robles--all
destinations specifically chosen to avoid parking in downtown SLO.
I know this is a difficult issue, and I do appreciate your care and dedication to our awesome little town.
Thanks,
Denise Indvik
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