You speak of the importance about education, yet you seem satisfied with your ignorance about the process and motives by which our city has just dramatically changed it parking policies. To be taken seriously, one must practice what one preaches.
The City of Somerville does not rely primarily on fines and fees for revenues, but it has boosted them in this budget cycle to help fill the gaps. The proof is in the budget itself, linked from my post above as well as the Mayor's May 4th budget presentation (http://www.somervillema.gov/cos_content/documents/SpecialBOAMeetingMayorsPresentation5-4-2009.pdf) (see slide 13).
In this Jun 30th SJ article (http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/news/x1885874713/Somerville-aldermen-split-on-citywide-permit-parking) about the city's plan to make resident-permit parking city-wide, Ald. "Roche said if the plan, recommended by the Traffic Commission, does not go into effect by Aug. 1, the city would lose $10,000 to $15,000 a month in much needed revenue." Clearly, these parking changes are being made for financial reasons, not primarily to improve our parking system. Now that you have the facts, how do you feel about them?
no subject
The City of Somerville does not rely primarily on fines and fees for revenues, but it has boosted them in this budget cycle to help fill the gaps. The proof is in the budget itself, linked from my post above as well as the Mayor's May 4th budget presentation (http://www.somervillema.gov/cos_content/documents/SpecialBOAMeetingMayorsPresentation5-4-2009.pdf) (see slide 13).
In this Jun 30th SJ article (http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/news/x1885874713/Somerville-aldermen-split-on-citywide-permit-parking) about the city's plan to make resident-permit parking city-wide, Ald. "Roche said if the plan, recommended by the Traffic Commission, does not go into effect by Aug. 1, the city would lose $10,000 to $15,000 a month in much needed revenue." Clearly, these parking changes are being made for financial reasons, not primarily to improve our parking system. Now that you have the facts, how do you feel about them?