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Community Corner

Parking Meters +

I and many other residents as well as businesses are incensed by the decision of members of the City Council (save for John D’Amico) who voted to extended parking meter hours to such an extreme. This will greatly inconvenience individuals and establishments. Who wants to have to keep looking at the time to ensure they return to the meter to avoid a hefty parking violation fee? A leisurely meal or shopping - forget it!

The Council has repeatedly touted the financial stability of West Hollywood. Why, then, the necessity for this action? I can smell the greed to unnecessarily further engorge our coffers.

Extension of hours for metered spaces (even on SUNDAY !), will force residents and visitors to use valets and public parking structures - both of which, as far as I know, the City receives monies from.

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Last month, the city placed illuminated notices on major streets to advise individuals of this change. BUT what was NOT noted is that the change takes effect on Tuesday, September 3. However, people reading this would think it was already in effect. During a walk earlier today (Sunday, September 1), I noticed that the majority of meters had money placed in them. Should I mention the word "swindle?" It is, at best, deceiving and, at worst, disgusting !

Further, the Council, to the best of my knowledge, approved the building monstrosities arising at Santa Monica Boulevard and La Brea, let alone the one at Fountain and La Brea. And now, with the closing of Trader Joe’s in the Movietown Plaza on Santa Monica, the city has given permission to erect a still controversial multi-use edifice. And then there is the supposed Walgreen’s arising at Santa Monica and Crescent Heights !

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We are just a 1.9 square mile city. How many more residents can we "shoehorn" into this small area until driving and parking become an even more unimaginable nightmare ? Are we becoming the Manhattan of the West ? It seems like this is where we are headed until the City Council calls a halt to more new construction.

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