Thread: CA: Overnight parking law faces discussion, vote

Overnight parking law faces discussion, vote

By Angela Lau
STAFF WRITER

September 7, 2008

ESCONDIDO, CA – After numerous changes, vociferous complaints from opponents and tepid backing from supporters, Escondido's overnight street-parking ordinance is finally ready for consideration.

The City Council will hold a public hearing about the proposed ordinance at 7 p.m. Wednesday before voting on it.

OVERVIEW

Background: Escondido has been wrestling with an ordinance that would limit street parking between 2 and 5 a.m. to residents who live nearby. Supporters say many city streets have too many cars parked on them at night. Opponents contend the city is really trying to drive out illegal immigrants, some of whom share a home with other families, without saying so directly.

What's changing: Historical homes that do not have garages could be exempted from the restrictions if the city manager decides they need more street-parking space. A companion ordinance would be allow side-yard parking throughout the city.

Public hearing: The City Council will hold a hearing beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, before voting on the ordinance.

The ordinance would limit street parking between 2 and 5 a.m. to residents who live nearby.

It would affect the city's urban core, about 29,000 housing units in a 4,300-acre area roughly bounded by Rincon Avenue on the north, Interstate 15 on the west, Felicita Avenue on the south and Bear Valley Parkway on the east.

If approved, the ordinance would put in place the second part of the city's two-pronged attack on its parking problems. The city banned front-yard parking in February.

Wednesday night's debate likely will move beyond parking and into the thorny issue of immigration.

In the eyes of some people, Escondido's efforts to control parking are not just about moving cars off front yards and streets, but about driving out its population of illegal immigrants. Most of them live in the urban core, and some share homes with other families and park in front yards and on neighborhood streets.

Councilman Sam Abed, who supports the front-yard parking ban and the proposed overnight street-parking restrictions, said the regulations are not aimed at eliminating illegal immigrants. Rather, they are meant to improve Escondido's appearance and quality of life, Abed said.

“We are addressing overcrowding,â€

[quote]“What they want to do is to make Escondido into the city they want it to be instead of embracing Escondido for its good qualities and for what it is,â€

[quote="crazybird"][quote]“What they want to do is to make Escondido into the city they want it to be instead of embracing Escondido for its good qualities and for what it is,â€

Lisa Prazeau, president of the Escondido Chamber of Citizens, said the street-parking ordinance is partly aimed at driving out illegal immigrants.

That would be make sense. Why shouldnt it be aimed at lowering the volume of illegal aliens and their hundreds of cars? It seems to me the neighborhood is becoming overrun with cars parked all over front lawns, thereby driving down property values. Why wouldnt they want to change it. Illegal immigrants need to be deported.