CA Guv Hopeful: Let’s Not Extend Parking Meter Hours in a Recession
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has snagged some high-profile support for his nascent California gubernatorial bid, but he may have some trouble with the transit-riding, congestion-weary constituency. My colleagues Matthew Roth and Bryan Goebel have the story over at Streetsblog San Fran:
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom Photo: GawkerMayor Gavin Newsom has been quietly pressuring MTA Chief Nat Ford todelay or prevent proposals to extend parking meter hours on weeknightsand Sundays, despite a looming mid-year MTA budget deficit and studiesthat show it's good policy, Streetsblog has learned. ...
"The Mayor thinks it's the wrong time to make these moves," said NathanBallard, Newsom's communications director. "Right now, with the economywhere it is, the burden on ordinary people for city services is alreadystretched to the max, and so he hasn't seen anything that convinces himotherwise. He's open to arguments, but he's still where he was."
The "we can't change policy in a bad economy" argument is familiar to Capitol Hill transportation watchers, who saw the Obama administration use the recession to rule out a gas tax hike or per-mile vehicle fee earlier this year.
But in Newsom's case, as Matt and Bryan point out, San Francisco is lagging behind its fellow major cities when it comes to charging for parking. In Los Angeles, where voters will soon be looking at Newsom's credentials, meters remain on until 2 a.m. New York City keeps meters on until midnight, and Washington D.C.'s stay on until 10 p.m.
And with the city transit authority facing possible fare hikes or service cuts in the wake of a budget deficit, it's tough to see how not extending parking meter hours doesn't hit non-car-owning voters where it hurts.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog New York City
City Considers Fixes for Another Ridiculously Slow Cross-Bronx Bus
Potential bus improvements are on the table for the Bronx's Tremont Avenue, but the Adams administration's failures on nearby Fordham Road loom large.
DOT Unveils First Step for Park Row Redesign
The city hopes to make Park Row more appealing to residents and visitors. But the real work is years off.
Monday’s Headlines: East New York’s New Bikes Lanes Reduced Crashes Edition
Initial results show East New York's protected bike lanes made Cozine and Wortman avenues safer. Plus more news.
Stockholm Leader’s Message to NYC: ‘Congestion Pricing Just Works’
"In Stockholm, people really thought that congestion pricing would be the end of the world, the city will come to a standstill, no one would be able to get to work anymore and all the theaters and shops would just go bankrupt. None of that happened."
Friday’s Headlines: Trump Trial Trumps Safety Edition
Is anyone going to bother to fix the dangerous mess on the streets and plazas around the Trump trial? Plus more news.
