The Editor,
Re: "Welcome to Steveston; have a ticket," Letters, Aug. 17
I wanted to respond to the letter in the Richmond News by Warren Bell and to say I am in totally agreement with him.
I run a record store in Steveston Village called the Beatmerchant and this year we have had paid parking introduced into the village by the Steveston Harbour Authority.
That was quickly followed by the City of Richmond jumping on the bandwagon by introducing permit parking in the village lanes and employing two traffic enforcement officers who have been brutal for the village, its visitors and my employees.
Steveston Village is supposed to be a tourist destination and the city recently opened a visitor centre in the village, but this is how people are greeted by Steveston - with this parking war and money grab!
The City of Richmond and the harbour authority should be ashamed of themselves.
The big parking lot on Chatham Street is now paid parking and is always empty, as most of them are.
The merchants in the village would like to see this parking lot given back to the many employees of Steveston, so they can park for a minimum fee per month.
Visitors should also be able to have free parking somewhere in the village so they can walk around and enjoy Steveston without being constantly harassed.
Paid parking was introduced in White Rock some years back and had a bad effect on the merchants' trade there.
The same is going to happen in Steveston Village with cross border shopping also affecting the village trade.
Action needs to be taken.
Welcome to Steveston; have a ticket - well said. We should be saying, "Welcome to Steveston; enjoy yourselves."
Frankie Neilson Steveston
