No real surprise that Millbrae is jumping aboard the paid parking wagon as other cities have done, (“Millbrae moving to paid parking,” Feb. 19 edition).
The hundreds of minimum wage workers who commute to San Mateo and populate our local restaurants, stores and super markets to serve us, are the most affected. They tell me they have to abandon work briefly to run out to move their cars or feed the monster at the rate of $6 to $10 or more dollars per day or risk getting penalized the sum of $42 for over parking. Some also pay bridge tolls.
The fine is equivalent to 2 1/2 hours of lost wages. Are we creating “equity” yet? Our neighboring San Carlos offers us a pristine, clean downtown with free parking and many good restaurants. Shhhhh! Don’t tell them.
Well written, Mr. Lopez-Guerra. I guess the bright side (?) is that there may be fewer minimum, or any, wage workers who will commute to the Peninsula to work because businesses won’t need as much labor as they lose business to other cities with free parking. Or employees and patrons will park in nearby residential areas, as many do in San Mateo, and share the misery. Meanwhile, more discrimination and convenience for the well-heeled among us to envision their version of “equity.”
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(1) comment
Well written, Mr. Lopez-Guerra. I guess the bright side (?) is that there may be fewer minimum, or any, wage workers who will commute to the Peninsula to work because businesses won’t need as much labor as they lose business to other cities with free parking. Or employees and patrons will park in nearby residential areas, as many do in San Mateo, and share the misery. Meanwhile, more discrimination and convenience for the well-heeled among us to envision their version of “equity.”
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.