Councilman Dion Bracco has the right idea. Downtown parking is
only going to get worse unless the city steps in and takes action
that combines both restrictions and enforcement.
Councilman Dion Bracco has the right idea. Downtown parking is only going to get worse unless the city steps in and takes action that combines both restrictions and enforcement.
Otherwise, employees of businesses downtown will continue to hog the parking places, and that’s a problem that will get a lot worse in the not-too-distant future as more businesses open downtown.
It’s time for the City Council to take off the parking brake and turn on the engine. It’s time to get it in gear.
When the construction downtown has long ended, and people are “saving” parking spaces with orange cones in the morning, it’s a clear signal the problem is out of control.
At a recent Council retreat, Mr. Bracco said, “We have a couple employees down there that don’t care if merchants have a place for customers to park. I think it’s time we make a decision to start enforcing parking … I’m talking about chalking tires and writing tickets.”
Hallelujah, and pass the parking meters.
Simply applying a laissez faire philosophy won’t work in this case. Shortly after Monterey Street opened, the parking problem emerged.
Understanding that it’s American human nature to make the walk between the car and the workplace as short as possible is key to taking a realistic approach to solving this problem.
The solution doesn’t have to be one-dimensional. Maybe there are some additional parking opportunities that need to be explored or enhanced lighting for pedestrian channels to major parking areas. But employees, apparently undeterred by shortsighted and selfish business owners, cannot continue to monopolize parking downtown. It’s unfair to merchants, it’s counterproductive to attracting new businesses to the area and it sends a fatal message to customers. “No room for you,” is hardly the message downtown Gilroy needs to send out.
At the retreat, Mayor Al Pinheiro said, “We’re going to get things done.”
Mr. Pinheiro has long been a champion for a revived downtown. Parking restriction and enforcement may not be a popular decision, but it’s one that should be made by elected community leaders without further reservation.
