Comments on: Newsom Opposed to Sunday Parking Enforcement, Study or No http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/05/29/newsom-opposed-to-sunday-parking-enforcement-study-or-no/ Covering San Francisco's livable streets movement Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:16:10 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: John Murphy http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/05/29/newsom-opposed-to-sunday-parking-enforcement-study-or-no/comment-page-1/#comment-5919 John Murphy Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:45:38 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2266#comment-5919 "Don't give me this fairness between public transportation users versus drivers issue. Between resident parking permits, city DMV taxes and registrations, meter fees, parking tickets and towing fines, I think drivers certainly pay their 'share' in this town. Cars are not the enemy!" Paying a "lot" does not mean paying your "share". Drivers are not paying their "share" in this town. "Don't give me this fairness between public transportation users versus drivers issue. Between resident parking permits, city DMV taxes and registrations, meter fees, parking tickets and towing fines, I think drivers certainly pay their 'share' in this town. Cars are not the enemy!"

Paying a "lot" does not mean paying your "share". Drivers are not paying their "share" in this town.

]]> By: MrMission http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/05/29/newsom-opposed-to-sunday-parking-enforcement-study-or-no/comment-page-1/#comment-5916 MrMission Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:18:09 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2266#comment-5916 Sunday parking in areas where the merchants are open on Sunday (which is most of the City) make sense. I have on occassion avoided certain merchants on Sunday and gone elsewhere because I knew that all the metered spaces in the area would be filled and parking would be impossible. I am not as convinced about extending the parking hours though. If merchants aren't open after 6 (and in many areas they aren't) then there is little point in keeping the meters going. On the other hand, if there are restaurants etc. in the area then the 2 hour limit is often too short for people who are doing more than having dinner (maybe people should be allowed to park for 4 hours after 6). Of course, Muni fare increases are sensible also. The system is so heavily subsidized right now it doesn't seem unreasonable for those who use it to pick up more of the cost. Certainly car owners pay plenty in taxes and fees. Sunday parking in areas where the merchants are open on Sunday (which is most of the City) make sense. I have on occassion avoided certain merchants on Sunday and gone elsewhere because I knew that all the metered spaces in the area would be filled and parking would be impossible.

I am not as convinced about extending the parking hours though. If merchants aren't open after 6 (and in many areas they aren't) then there is little point in keeping the meters going. On the other hand, if there are restaurants etc. in the area then the 2 hour limit is often too short for people who are doing more than having dinner (maybe people should be allowed to park for 4 hours after 6).

Of course, Muni fare increases are sensible also. The system is so heavily subsidized right now it doesn't seem unreasonable for those who use it to pick up more of the cost. Certainly car owners pay plenty in taxes and fees.

]]> By: John http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/05/29/newsom-opposed-to-sunday-parking-enforcement-study-or-no/comment-page-1/#comment-5911 John Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:42:47 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2266#comment-5911 The fact that people who live around these places of business are the ones using these spots is important. Give us a break. How hard is it to live and function in this city already? Not all of us have jobs which allow us to take public transit or bikes to work. Some of us haul cargo, tools, equipment, etc... and some of us have to commute to multiple locations in the bay area throughout the day. Also @ CBRINKMAN, entertaining point, but when does a MUNI passenger get a $50+ ticket for staying on the bus for one stop too many? There are plenty of people who live in San Francisco that also need to drive to provide for themselves. Resident parking problems are nothing new. Not everyone can afford +$250/mo parking spaces in garages. Between parking tickets, fender benders, meters, and parking availability issues, isn't it hard enough to be a driving resident in SF without 10pm and 7 day a week meters? Don't give me this fairness between public transportation users versus drivers issue. Between resident parking permits, city DMV taxes and registrations, meter fees, parking tickets and towing fines, I think drivers certainly pay their 'share' in this town. Cars are not the enemy! The fact that people who live around these places of business are the ones using these spots is important. Give us a break. How hard is it to live and function in this city already? Not all of us have jobs which allow us to take public transit or bikes to work. Some of us haul cargo, tools, equipment, etc... and some of us have to commute to multiple locations in the bay area throughout the day.

Also @ CBRINKMAN, entertaining point, but when does a MUNI passenger get a $50+ ticket for staying on the bus for one stop too many?

There are plenty of people who live in San Francisco that also need to drive to provide for themselves. Resident parking problems are nothing new. Not everyone can afford +$250/mo parking spaces in garages. Between parking tickets, fender benders, meters, and parking availability issues, isn't it hard enough to be a driving resident in SF without 10pm and 7 day a week meters?

Don't give me this fairness between public transportation users versus drivers issue. Between resident parking permits, city DMV taxes and registrations, meter fees, parking tickets and towing fines, I think drivers certainly pay their 'share' in this town. Cars are not the enemy!

]]> By: Tom Radulovich http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/05/29/newsom-opposed-to-sunday-parking-enforcement-study-or-no/comment-page-1/#comment-5902 Tom Radulovich Sun, 31 May 2009 18:55:45 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2266#comment-5902 The Mayor was, back when he was a Supervisor, a big supporter of Proposition E, which amended the City Charter to create the MTA. Section 8A.109 of the Charter, added by Proposition E, states: The Mayor, the Board of Supervisors, and the Agency diligently shall seek to develop new sources of funding for the Agency's operations, including sources of funding dedicated to the support of such operations, which can be used to supplement or replace that portion of the Municipal Transportation Fund consisting of appropriations from the General Fund of the City and County. The Mayor has been less than diligent in seeking new sources of funding for the MTA; he opposed the parking tax increase a few years ago, and only grudgingly supported Proposition A in 2007, which increased MTA funding by about $26 million (and immediately took back MTA's additional revenue, and more, in the form of interdepartmental work orders). If my memory serves, he has proposed no new sources of revenue for the MTA in his term as Mayor. Perhaps a diligent reporter could query the Mayor as to what he has done, and plans to do, to fulfill his responsibilities under section 8A.109 of the Charter – a charter provision he takes credit for! The Mayor was, back when he was a Supervisor, a big supporter of Proposition E, which amended the City Charter to create the MTA.

Section 8A.109 of the Charter, added by Proposition E, states:

The Mayor, the Board of Supervisors, and the Agency diligently shall seek to develop new sources of funding for the Agency's operations, including sources of funding dedicated to the support of such operations, which can be used to supplement or replace that portion of the Municipal Transportation Fund consisting of appropriations from the General Fund of the City and County.

The Mayor has been less than diligent in seeking new sources of funding for the MTA; he opposed the parking tax increase a few years ago, and only grudgingly supported Proposition A in 2007, which increased MTA funding by about $26 million (and immediately took back MTA's additional revenue, and more, in the form of interdepartmental work orders). If my memory serves, he has proposed no new sources of revenue for the MTA in his term as Mayor.

Perhaps a diligent reporter could query the Mayor as to what he has done, and plans to do, to fulfill his responsibilities under section 8A.109 of the Charter – a charter provision he takes credit for!

]]> By: marcos http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/05/29/newsom-opposed-to-sunday-parking-enforcement-study-or-no/comment-page-1/#comment-5901 marcos Sun, 31 May 2009 12:49:33 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2266#comment-5901 The justification is that people with more political power than you want there to be a subsidy for driving and extra burdens placed on transit ridership. No matter how good the case may be for an alternative policy, we will not see a change in public policy until the political equation changes. It is not sufficient to show up with good ideas and demand they be implemented simply because one asserts that they are good ideas. -marc The justification is that people with more political power than you want there to be a subsidy for driving and extra burdens placed on transit ridership.

No matter how good the case may be for an alternative policy, we will not see a change in public policy until the political equation changes.

It is not sufficient to show up with good ideas and demand they be implemented simply because one asserts that they are good ideas.

-marc

]]> By: L http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/05/29/newsom-opposed-to-sunday-parking-enforcement-study-or-no/comment-page-1/#comment-5896 L Sat, 30 May 2009 19:20:33 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2266#comment-5896 Not really sure what the justification for free Sunday parking is now. There was a time when American downtowns were devoid of shoppers because stores were closed on Sundays and people were in church. Folks--times changed long ago! SF downtown is full of shoppers on Sundays. Wake up! Use transit, leave the car at home and merchants--stop complaining--we all know you feed the meters in front of your storefronts. Ever notice how infrequently parallel parked cars turnover on Van Ness Ave? Meter feeding by merchants! Cahrge THEM instead of charging higher MUNI fares! Not really sure what the justification for free Sunday parking is now.
There was a time when American downtowns were devoid of shoppers because stores were closed on Sundays and people were in church.
Folks--times changed long ago! SF downtown is full of shoppers on Sundays. Wake up! Use transit, leave the car at home and merchants--stop complaining--we all know you feed the meters in front of your storefronts. Ever notice how infrequently parallel parked cars turnover on Van Ness Ave? Meter feeding by merchants!
Cahrge THEM instead of charging higher MUNI fares!

]]> By: marcos http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/05/29/newsom-opposed-to-sunday-parking-enforcement-study-or-no/comment-page-1/#comment-5891 marcos Sat, 30 May 2009 14:57:28 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2266#comment-5891 @Cheryl, we don't "get" anything for free in politics, we have to actually do the work which successfully wrests power, no booby prize for "fighting the good fight" other than to pay more money for fewer transit lines with stops spaced further away, assuming you don't live in public housing, in which case, you've got those two legs or four wheels you can't really afford for a reason. @DaveO, an honest, full life cycle EIR of Newsom's MTA budget would reveal that it does more to impede the free flow of transit than the few segments of the Bike Plan did to those few lines because by creating barriers to using Muni, more people will drive and that will represent the death spiral for transit. A 50% day-use premium to be in control of your time and have a greater effective travel range is much more appealing than an expensive stripped down transit system. I'd hope this could serve as a clarion call to recall Newsom right now, and if we can't figure out how to raise enough political energy to contemplate contesting room 200 now, then we have no hope of winning in 2011 unless you consider Dennis Herrera a trade up, which I don't. -marc @Cheryl, we don't "get" anything for free in politics, we have to actually do the work which successfully wrests power, no booby prize for "fighting the good fight" other than to pay more money for fewer transit lines with stops spaced further away, assuming you don't live in public housing, in which case, you've got those two legs or four wheels you can't really afford for a reason.

@DaveO, an honest, full life cycle EIR of Newsom's MTA budget would reveal that it does more to impede the free flow of transit than the few segments of the Bike Plan did to those few lines because by creating barriers to using Muni, more people will drive and that will represent the death spiral for transit. A 50% day-use premium to be in control of your time and have a greater effective travel range is much more appealing than an expensive stripped down transit system.

I'd hope this could serve as a clarion call to recall Newsom right now, and if we can't figure out how to raise enough political energy to contemplate contesting room 200 now, then we have no hope of winning in 2011 unless you consider Dennis Herrera a trade up, which I don't.

-marc

]]> By: DaveO http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/05/29/newsom-opposed-to-sunday-parking-enforcement-study-or-no/comment-page-1/#comment-5886 DaveO Sat, 30 May 2009 05:17:04 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2266#comment-5886 Yeah, what a moron. This is the same guy who supported a citywide bike plan without comprehensive environmental review. Yeah, what a moron. This is the same guy who supported a citywide bike plan without comprehensive environmental review.

]]> By: CBrinkman http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/05/29/newsom-opposed-to-sunday-parking-enforcement-study-or-no/comment-page-1/#comment-5884 CBrinkman Sat, 30 May 2009 03:44:49 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2266#comment-5884 So when do we get free Muni on Sundays? So when do we get free Muni on Sundays?

]]> By: Dave Snyder http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/05/29/newsom-opposed-to-sunday-parking-enforcement-study-or-no/comment-page-1/#comment-5880 Dave Snyder Sat, 30 May 2009 02:09:52 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2266#comment-5880 SPUR supports charging for parking on Sundays and weekday evenings. SPUR supports charging for parking on Sundays and weekday evenings.

]]> By: John Murphy http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/05/29/newsom-opposed-to-sunday-parking-enforcement-study-or-no/comment-page-1/#comment-5875 John Murphy Fri, 29 May 2009 22:24:38 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2266#comment-5875 What does newsom care? http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2009/02/aint_that_the_mayors_car_block.php What does newsom care?

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2009/02/aint_that_the_mayors_car_block.php

]]> By: mikesonn http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/05/29/newsom-opposed-to-sunday-parking-enforcement-study-or-no/comment-page-1/#comment-5874 mikesonn Fri, 29 May 2009 22:14:15 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2266#comment-5874 Maybe we really need to beat in the point that not extending parking until 10 and not having Sunday metered parking means that the people who live above and around these businesses will just park and take up the spot. Their flawed logic doesn't even take into account that these spaces aren't usually used by people shopping or eating, but by people who just park and go right into their home. Maybe we really need to beat in the point that not extending parking until 10 and not having Sunday metered parking means that the people who live above and around these businesses will just park and take up the spot.

Their flawed logic doesn't even take into account that these spaces aren't usually used by people shopping or eating, but by people who just park and go right into their home.

]]> By: Josh http://sf.streetsblog.org/2009/05/29/newsom-opposed-to-sunday-parking-enforcement-study-or-no/comment-page-1/#comment-5872 Josh Fri, 29 May 2009 21:55:29 +0000 http://sf.streetsblog.org/?p=2266#comment-5872 “Small business people are almost more passionate about parking than almost any issue but health care in this city, and so I just want to be sensitive to that and to talk to them and bring them into the process,” They're entitled to their passion, but they are factually incorrect. The increased parking costs/restrictions and cheaper Muni fares and better local service would boost their business. They can run off that cliff as passionately as they like, but why is Newsom letting them take us with them? “Small business people are almost more passionate about parking than almost any issue but health care in this city, and so I just want to be sensitive to that and to talk to them and bring them into the process,”

They're entitled to their passion, but they are factually incorrect. The increased parking costs/restrictions and cheaper Muni fares and better local service would boost their business.

They can run off that cliff as passionately as they like, but why is Newsom letting them take us with them?

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