I was both surprised and impressed when council decided to abandon plans for paid on-street parking in downtown Prince George.
I firmly believe Prince George has an enforcement problem, not a parking problem. I began working downtown in March 2012. Instead of parking on the street and moving my vehicle every couple of hours like my peers do, I chose to pay for a parking spot in a city lot.
In August 2013, I was forced to choose a new parking lot as a result of the new RCMP building construction. (A letter was mailed to me with less then 30 days notice). While slightly miffed, I accepted this, knowing that our downtown is being improved with a beautiful new municipal police station.
Today I received a notice from bylaw services explaining my parking fees at the 2nd Ave. parkade will be nearly doubling on Jan. 1, from $51 to $90. Unbelievable. Instead of dealing with an enforcement issue, council and Mayor Green have chosen to punish people working downtown who are doing the right thing while watching colleagues move their cars to escape bylaw chalk.
Congratulations, council. I can't wait to vote in the next municipal election.
Aaron Lozier
Prince George
