The Editor,
Please take a minute to think about the consequences of pay parking in the Village of Steveston. Since the Steveston Harbour Authority introduced pay parking on Chatham Street, the parking lot remains empty for the most part and Chatham Street has become clogged with cars vying for free parking.
If pay parking was introduced to Steveston, visitors will likely encroach on residential areas, forcing the city to erect unsightly "residential parking only" signs everywhere. Then it would charge the locals for a permit for the privilege to park on the street where they live, much like Kitsilano and the West End.
Pretty ugly.
Steveston is not a town, nor a city. It is, and should remain, a village. It is a gem, one without the entrapments and limitations imposed upon town and city dwellers. Our much needed visitors flock to Steveston in the summertime.
Why charge the people who help keep our local economy alive more to visit us?
Stanley Park suffered due to pay parking and the City of Vancouver has since removed the meters from that public park, donated by Lord Stanley for all to use. Even busy areas, such as Granville Island, have plenty of free parking.
Our local merchants will attest it is hard enough to eke out a living in this seasonal location, without the added burden of imposing extra fees on our guests.
Money our guests pay in parking fees will line the pockets of the city short term, but in the long run, it will be a hardship to everyone in Steveston.
In my opinion, pay parking is nothing more than a short sighted cash grab, one that will severely detract from the very community-minded spirit we Stevestonites take pride in. We like to welcome our friends and visitors - freely.
As for us residents, we enjoy the liberty and spontaneity free parking offers when we have to use our vehicles. Pay parking is not for us.
City greed will kill our economy, if we let it.
Let us band together and send a strong message to City Hall that this is an unwise decision for this location.
Jackie Bulmer. Steveston
