HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/14/2024 Item 4a, Johnson A
From:Ana Johnson <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:5/14/24 City Council Meeting: Agenda Item 4.a.
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Re: City Council Meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Agenda Item 4.a.
Dear City Council,
My name is Ana Johnson, and I'm representing many local businesses in downtown San Luis Obispo such as Novo, Hands
Gallery, and The Junk Girls. I am sharing my support, in line with Downtown SLO’s Board of Directors, for Option B of the
Parking Rate Study recommendations presented by Dixon Unlimited. This option offers the most affordable parking
rates downtown, addressing the primary concern expressed by respondents in the Parking Rate Study.
Furthermore, I am in support of this position because I have lived in San Luis Obispo county since 2007 (in the city of SLO
for most of those years). I love shopping downtown and do my best to support local businesses above large
corporations. However, with the ASTRONOMICAL increase in parking costs, my family and I actively avoid going
downtown unless we are up to parking far out of downtown so that we don't have to pay for parking. We used to go to
the farmers market every week and eat dinner at a downtown business while we were there, but now we rarely go
because it isn't worth it to pay upwards of $10 just to park. I have family that lives in Southern California and in San Jose
and I don't even have to pay these ridiculous costs for parking when I visit their larger cities. I honestly don't know how
these downtown businesses are staying afloat with the current parking costs.
If you are actually interested in seeing our community thrive as you say you are, changes MUST be made to the parking
situation. As a local for over 15 years, a homeowner, a local teacher, and someone who has chosen to stay and raise my
family here on the central coast, I support these businesses in their fight for fair parking costs.
Sincerely,
Ana Johnson
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