Comments on: Oakland Council Rolls Back Parking Changes Amid Cries From Merchants

By: jah

jah — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:23:32 +0000

I second that the problem was not the rate increase, it was the time extension which would obviously effect something like a movie theater. Why it was an all or nothing deal seems like the City Council’s problem—it was a bad idea with little consideration given to the businesses that pay the sales tax that funds the City Council—that’s the way it is!

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:23:28 +0000

And while we’re talking actual parking policy, why not operate meters 7 days a week? The only examples I can think of where parking issues kept me from going to Oakland shops were a Sunday when no spots were free!

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:18:26 +0000

And walking past the Grand Lake Theatre last night, I noticed that the marquee is already complaining that the parking rollback “offers no relief to daytime businesses.” Seriously what is Michaan’s problem?

Maybe an organized boycott is in order? This guy is unhinged.

By: Kels

Kels — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:24:42 +0000

I wasn’t adding to the parking Revenue since July. I’d walk further to avoid meters altogether or go shop where I could park in a lot for free. I’m pleased they repealed the hours. All of you who wanted the longer hours – just send your checks downtown to keep paying!

By: Kels

Kels — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:18:11 +0000

I live and work in Oakland and I didn’t mind the $2.00 rate, but I did resent the 8 pm extension. I don’t want to leave a hard day at work then worry about a $55 ticket while trying to run errands or getting dinner at one of the great new restaurants downtown (that ARE bringing in new revenue).

By: Seth Andrzejewski

Seth Andrzejewski — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:05:12 +0000

What kind of business owner trash talks his own city to the extent Michaan did for the measly end of rolling back parking hours/fees?

By: The Dynamic Mumeshantz

The Dynamic Mumeshantz — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:26:03 +0000

Well that will be the last time I go out of my way to visit the otherwise beautiful and great to see a movie at Grand Lake theater.

By: Luke

Luke — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:27:02 +0000

I’ll just pretend that it was my letter to Nancy that convinced her to be the only one who stood up for the parking changes. I’m very disappointed about this. Time to start a flood of letters to Mr. Michaan telling him that he can’t expect to get our business anymore, and he has only himself to blame.

By: a

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:36:13 +0000

I’m surprised Kaplan voted for this. Well, at least we still have one councilmember with half a brain.

By: Tony

Tony — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:34:24 +0000

Now spaces in Oakland Chinatown will really open up.

By: Bryan Goebel

Bryan Goebel — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:54:23 +0000

@Jass: We will definitely do follow-ups.

By: mikesonn

mikesonn — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:49:38 +0000

Jass, I believe we will. I think most of us on this site have an opinion on parking, but if leaving parking rates low works I want to see the results. Personally, I’d hate to go around arguing against something that increases business (but I really doubt we’ll see a 30% increase).

By: jass

jass — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:44:47 +0000

Will we be seeing a follow up article in 3 months discussing if sales went up 30%?

By: Peter Smith

Peter Smith — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:11:41 +0000

“…but you were accused of extortion by a man who charges $3 for a small coke.”

burn.

By: mikesonn

mikesonn — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:26:12 +0000

The thing is, if we didn’t plan ourselves into a corner by making the east bay almost exclusively car-dependent then raising parking rates wouldn’t seem like an end of the world event.

Then again, realistically, making the turn-over on parking a priority, more people would enter business districts over the course of a day hence increasing the possibility for revenue. But you can only say that so many times.

By: zsolt

zsolt — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:24:00 +0000

What a mess. Fearmongering wins. The audacity of this Michaan guy is amazing.

=====================================================

“She said the public didn’t pay attention to the budget until parking, but she felt increased parking hours and rates were preferable to shuttering libraries and firing police officers.”

=====================================================

Sadly, the public has spoken. Here’s a solution that might please them: convert the libraries into parking structures.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:20:39 +0000

So now that Oakland businesses have brow beaten the City Council into overturning a perfectly reasonable fare increase, we will be watching to see if business really increases 30-50% in Downtown Oakland. If not, the problem was the recession, not parking fees.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:15:04 +0000

Oakland City Council will now have to lay off the very cops who patrol downtown Oakland to keep cars from getting stolen or broken into. Smart move, selfish car owners.