HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/7/2023 Item 6a, Rowe
From:
20 PM
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Downtown SLO Parking comments
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Dear Council Members,
I am writing to express my dismay and concern regarding the recent increase in parking fees in downtown SLO.
I work for a small business on Monterey Street. I've witnessed the owners struggle through a rough economy, COVID
closures, insurance and utility increases, minimum wage increases and high gas prices that have impacted their bottom
line for products. Then came the doubling of the cost to park!
This doubling of parking fees has already had a negative effect on costs to businesses, not only for their staffs, but for
customers. We've heard numerous complaints that parking costs will greatly limit visits into the downtown area. We've
heard complaints about how it impacts their spending in downtown stores. And we've heard people say they can't shop
and have a meal in 1-2 hours, so for locals, that "locals discount" is pretty much worthless. For those in the county who
drive some distance to get to SLO downtown, it's hardly worth it by the time they've paid for gas and parking. And for
employees, it's eating into their wages in a big way, to the point that it makes it even more difficult for businesses to find
good people willing to lose some of their earnings to parking.
I'm not sure how such a drastic rate increase helps the city generate more revenue. When you lose 3 downtown
restaurants within months, two large properties sit empty for many months (the former Ross and Beverly's) and others
are struggling, where is the benefit? More will be lost if this continues. Lost businesses, lost jobs, lost revenue for the
city.
If increases are absolutely essential, please consider making them more realistic for everyone who loves, works in and
wants to visit. SLO Downtown is what's always shown on the tourist medias. What's happening now is tourists AND
locals are becoming more and more disenchanted and instead will head over to SLO Promenade, or elsewhere, where
they can park for free. Or not come at all.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please listen.
Patti Rowe
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