LBPOST.com: LAT: Senator Alan Lowenthal's Anti-Free Parking Bill Moves

Thursday, September 2, 2010

LAT: Senator Alan Lowenthal's Anti-Free Parking Bill Moves

by Ryan ZumMallen | Long Beach News | 01.29.10 |

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12:53pm | LATimes.com reporter Patrick McGreevy covers State Senator Alan Lowenthal (D - Long Beach) who has won Senate approval of a bill he introduced that is designed to discourage local government from providing free parking.

The LATimes reports that the bill:

...provides financial incentives for cities and counties to stop providing free parking on the street and at government offices and to reduce the amount they require businesses to provide, taking aim at what some of them see as a menace to California's environment: free parking.

Click here to read the article.

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52 Comments so far.

Karl
Thismaybe a good idea to raise revenue for Local govenments and possibilly the state. It's just ironic coming from the guy who eliminated the Toll fees for the Vincent Thomas Bridge. Those fees should be reintroduced and every dime collected should be dedicated to the necessary maintenance of the bridge and related port operations.

WrigleyWriter
To Karl, if you recall, Lowenthal worked to eliminate the tolls because the wait at the toll booths caused a substantial number of trucks leaving the Port of Los Angeles to drive up the 710 instead of the 110, giving Long Beach a disproportionate burden of port-related traffic.

hoyleysox
The last thing CA needs is another cost of living increase in this economy.

Resistor.One
When will the idiocy cease? When will the Democrats of this state stop trying to hold us upside down and shake until every las nickel drops from our pockets?

Dennis
I encourage folks to always do diligent research. See http://www.tollroadsnews.com/node/2455 on why the tolls for the Bridge were removed by Lowenthal and Karnette (State officials, not Congressman as stated in the article). With the overheads, little money was left after paying staff. Either way, I still pay.

Derek
Can you spell M-O-R-O-N? Is this guy really this stupid? Ask him when the last time he rode on a bus was? When was the last time he went and did his marketing and took the bus home. Ask the merchants if they want their patrons to pay for parking as well as the goods they buy. Too much free parking? It is d***** b**s like this that give humanity a good name. WORK ON MAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION convenient, efficient, and cost effective and people will use it. This isn' t Manhatten you idiot! I am sick to my stomach... TAX TAX TAX Maybe next they will propose a door tax.. every time you go in and out the door of a business you will be charged. I'm incensed with IDIOTS like this. The world is crumbling and he wants to take away FREE parking. Isn't this the same guy that did away with toll fees and also sponsored a "health pet" law. What are we paying these pukes for? How about you create some jobs you lunitic and focus on things that are important. And by the way... Show us your bus pass.. Oh, you don't have one... You do? I see, you have to go get it out of your state supplied SUV that is parked in your private state supplied parking spot. It figures

Dave
This is one of the dumbest ideal ever. Understand people, the failures of the government to control cost is why they come up with ways to take more money from your pocket (or purse). Don't fall for their tricks. They need to lay off government employees just like the private sector. Who said that government employees should stay employed by taking more of our monies. come on people, use your brains.

Mark
Free parking is such a menace! Gee whiz, what a surprise to see another CA state Democat with a scheme to get my money! I'm shocked!!!

lb resident
Are you aware that this bill will encourage businesses to provide less parking to patrons, as well as less street parking to residents. If the city can successfully reduce the parking to 1 space per 3 bedroom residence, they will receive significant carbon credits. Eventually we will be paying for parking to grocery shop, see a doctor, or even park in front of our residence. Let's shake down California residents for every nickle and dime. When will this end??

The Commish
Where does one start to look at the logic he uses on this crackpot idea? I'm sure all the parents out there can't wait to take their children to school and themselves to work (in various directions, various routes) on the already crowded transportation systems. Low-income single parents who are then required to pay their their parking are again carrying the revenue generation on their backs. Can pay toilets in government buildings be far off?

Tom
To Resistor. One As long as we keep electing them.

Shemp
This may be an idea whose time has come-after the senator and the rest of our electeds find a way to balance the State budget and restore needed service which they have recently eliminated. This must be some kind of feel good diversion from what we sent him to Sacto to do! Suggest he gets back to work on the budget and then perhaps he'll have a source for the funds which he proposes the State pay to the cities for eliminating our parking. But then again, we tax payers would be paying our cities for the right to pay our cities for the right to park in spaces which we now use for free. Wow!

Had Enough
This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. School budgets are being slashed, the jobless rate is through the roof, etc, etc and this is the only thing this guy can come up with? You have got to be kidding me. Well people of LB, you get what you voted for. Time to wake up and vote for those who will create jobs, keep money in your pocket AND make the education of our children a priority.

Stunned@the stupidity!
Stunning. There is no other way to describe the idiocy of this bill. The state is the laughing stock of America, we drive business into neighboring states and we have minutia-minded legislators that worry about parking!

fedupinLB
Are these people out of their minds.....Just another way to take more from the working class. How do you get to work Mr. Lowenthal? Personally, I do not have an extra 3 hours a day to use public transportation to commute to and from work. The way our ELECTED OFFICIALS(maybe not re-elected) have mismanaged the state, the last thing we need is to have more of our income taken to feed the beast!!! Vote out all incumbents!!!Lets start with a clean slate,maybe they will get the message that they work for us! The time has come for the people of this country to stand up and be heard. Mr. Lowenthal...you do not represent us. Enjoy your final term sir.

Enough Zenough
I'd like to tell the Honorable Mr Lowenthal to beware of fees that may seem small, but come at a high cost (particularly to his political career).

Joseph E
Free parking is not free! My job at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center provides free parking for employees (well, some of us) while charging $5 per day for patients. Yet I ride the bus or bike to work. Why shouldn't my work pay me an extra $5 per day and let me choose whether to spend it on parking or to take the bus? Parking spaces usually cost $20,000 to construct in a garage or surface lot, since each car uses about 300 square feet, 1/3 of an apartment. The cost gets passed along to customers of businesses and citizens of our city through higher fees and taxes on other things. Charging for parking doesn't force anyone to take transit, bike or walk to work. It just lets the free market decide. Lowenthal's bill is one of the most libertarian, free-market things passed in California in years!

gino smith
I guess i should see you ride the bus to work no excuse of not able to serve the people thing as you should be doing what you wants to impose and this should be every single day not just photo for the newspapers. I'm a Democrat but i think it's time to vote for the Republicans next time, our state has been rule by Democrats for the longest time let see what the other side can do.

Simpleton
What the heck has happened to the live and let live philosophy that honored personal freedom and personal choice? On either side of the damned political spectrum. This state is being governed by yahoos that want to dictate how we live. Mind your own damned business!

Matt Jones
This guy is a total moron, I'll leave the state before I pay one more dime. I left the Democratic Party because I couldn't justify this crazy crap anymore.

Angel
Alan, you are usualy on target with new ideas! But this is one where you are dead wrong!! How about No free parking for any and all government officials and staff at all levels??

JLL
It's about revenue to fund the 100% pensions of unionized government workers and the services to those not legally qualified to receive them. I will financially support his opponent.

Shane
Government pigs like this guy Lowenthal are absolutely disgusting. Corrupt evil politicians like him will stop at nothing to get rich while destroying our freedoms in the name of protecting the environment. Soldiers throughout U.S. history who have died in wars fighting to keep us free would be rattling in their graves if they knew what scum like Lowenthal were attempting to do to this country.

Ben Cunningham
Simple economics is not rocket science? Compete in the marketplace will bring greater revenue to those that have the most to offer for the most to gain with the best product. Example: Why do people go to Lakewood? It offers free parking, and other. Follow by example. Don't choose Long Beach to close stores if choose economics way of diminishing returns happens or there is an increase in charge for parking? Even for All Bike Riders to Park that must pay? Will there be free buss shuttles and government funded "free bus or taxi rides" for all in all of Long Beach to offset the paid parking? Will ride Vouchers be next? We are the government as Tax payers we pay for it any way $ only if we want or let it happen. Voters can change our "elected" reps. Look at the history of Long Beach and see what worked, and why and what didn't and why? Don't make the same mistakes if history repeats itself. Learn! Maybe the Red Cars wasn't so bad after all. Just to many wires hangin' from overhead and those tracks that car tires kept sliding over.

Keith A.
Hay if we need to pay to park for serving on a Jury Duty Service, than the County or State or Feds will have to reimburse us for that too! This may all backfire when there is all parking for money only!

John M.
Golly Gee, the more parking fees creates for MUCH MORE government paper work and cuts down more GOOD trees that would have helped eliminate CO2 by converting it back to oxygen. I thought that we needed the trees? Every body plant a seed and vote for a tree.

Larry, Moe, and Curley
Angel, You got a great idea! Those government employees have a sure thing. They get paid. They should pay us tax payers back with $ parking, too. Into the tax fund like we have to do. They are public servants. So Mr and Ms. L. too you all better listen and you should pay for your parking like Joseph E. does at L.B. Memorial. If people that need medical care need to pay, so should people that work for church and the state need to pay too. No exceptions I guess even the handicapped and the senior citizens, Even retires from PERS and STRS, and visitors from another country or planet. Even Lawyers! When I need to pay to go to church on Sunday than you will here from my lawyer. By the way. I don't have or own plastic money. It is against my religion. So how do I pay for this new parking fees? Talk to my LAWYER Mr. L.

J.J.
I mean really...taking away free parking...come on Lowenthal. We are taxed on everything, now you don't want us to park our cars without paying for it!

Thank God for Term Limits
Now we need to make the legislature only part time so they only focus on matters that are truly important.

Pigeon
This is another example of why we need to recess the legislature for at least the next 5 years. We would all be better off.

Belly of Fire
Everyone except for him , right ? I can just see him schlepping his costco shopping on the bus, or better yet his bike with the little red horn.

LB Resident
Alan Lowenthal doesn't understand the real world. I haven't seen Mr Alan Lowenthal standing at a bus stop! Working people do errands on the drive to work or at lunch break or on the drive home. Many people pickup their children or family members on their drive. Also, some jobs require employees to drive and meet with customers and attend other off-site meetings. I rarely do business in Downtown Long Beach because of parking charges. I can go to nearby areas and park near the shops for free. Also, with the car, I can make stops at several places on a planned route and put my purchases in the car. In Downtown LB it is hard to read the parking lot signs from the street, so don't understand the charges unless you frequent the area. As a senior, I feel like a would be a target for crime if I was standing at a bus stop or on a bus. As others mentioned, you have to carry your purchases home and this could be a big issue. The bus routes don't take people directly to a place so they are spending extra time getting there and returning home. I won't vote for him, he doesn't understand the issues of the average person. Also, this is even more stupid in these difficult times when most people are trying to survive on a reduced income! He lives in another world and doesn't understand the real world!

Denis O'Callaghan
I can recognize a new tax when I see one and this piece of legislation is one of the most underhanded sneaky ways of raising taxes that I've seen a long time. Let's not reelect Lowenthal or any legislator who supports such a horrible piece of legislation. They got the state into this mess now let's fire them.

Paul
LBResident said,"Alan Lowenthal doesn't understand the real world. I haven't seen Mr Alan Lowenthal standing at a bus stop!" Of course not. Bonnie parked her Prius where she wanted in Long Beach. When elected to the State, one of her first bills was to give legislators special plates for parking priority. When waiting in line to get on Jet Blue to Sac. Alan went to the clerk and got on first. These people, the Lowenthal's, know what is best for YOU, but don't expect THEM to do it. Elitist Progressives much like Obama. Yet the rubes in Long Beach keep electing them? Probably voted for Obama too. Hey, they put Laura in office!!! So look around town, there are a lot of people to blame.

bobo
Will they tax the Free Parking on the Monopoly game board too ? Why doesn't someone come up with an a** tax? You know, if you are an a** you get taxed. hey it could catch on....hehe

Small Business Owner
Yippee, yet another small business killer coming out of the Lowenthal camp. Spoke to a developer friend last week, and Bonnie's name came up. He was telling me about the photos of famous communist leaders that were hanging in her council office during her terms in Long Beach. "Unbelieveable" can't really apply here, because it is so eminently believeable!

Connie
The politicians of yore took away our good public transportation (the old red cars) to force us into cars. Now, without a comprehensive transit system in place, they want to force us out. It's crush the people to squeeze out a dime. Let the politicians give up their cars we pay for, and try being in our shoes for a change!

RedDerek
Mr. Lowenthal, Let's kick this great idea of yours off first by requiring ALL government employees to pay $10 daily for their parking. Start there, let's see how far you gets.. Oh, I forgot... That might upset the government employees and their unions.. we can't have that! The world is coming apart at the seams and this is the best you have to offer your voting public? You sir, are a MORON! Obviously you don't live on the same planet as the rest of us because if you did, you would realize that people LIKE free parking, it is convenient, inviting and drives people to patronize business'. You wish to create "no fly" zones and kill commerce. Personally I avoid areas with pay parking or valet services. It is this kind of STUPIDITY that prevails throughout government and showcases the reasons we need to rage against big government. It is taking awhile, but people are finally starting to see the parallels between George Orwell's novel "Animal Farm" and modern day government. Some piggies are more privileged than other piggies. With ideas like this Mr. Lowenthal, you can claim the title of Head Piggy! This is the same guy who sponsored a "Healthy Pet" law. He's working hard good people of Long Beach, working hard to shake all the money out of your pockets. What a mental midget

Bus2Party
People obviously don't drive because of free parking. They drive because the available public option is inconvenient, unclean or seems dangerous. I take the passport on the weekends so that I can drink because that bus seems clean and goes through safe neighborhoods. I would never set foot on a regular LB transit bus though. If you want people to drive less get rid of strip malls, encourage more "strips" like 2nd St. in the Shore, clean up the buses and add more train routes.

Judy C.
Generally, Alan Lowenthal has proposed, as well as supported good legislation. Unfortunately, this piece of legislation is really a bad idea!Hard to believe it has gotten this far! All this will do is "punish" all members (including businesses, hospital's, etc.) of the community. Like it or not, Senator, people need to drive cars! Come up with something realistic and intelligent to curtail the pollution problem. HEY RED DEREK--Lay off the animal cracks! Your comments are as narrow minded and stupid as this piece of legislation!!

CKalina
Alan Lowenthal is a menace to our city and state!!!! Out you go! This a plan to kill business not protect the environment. This is beyond ridiculous, a short sighted way to raise revenue while killing long term business and sales tax revenue.

Asa effstop
Joesph E is almost as stupid as Me. Lowenthal. First, Cars do not take up 300 square feet - a two-car garage in a home is about 400 square feet and the car takes up a raction of that, Second, parking spot don't cost $20,000 each to construct, let alone maintain, they just don't - that is a ridiculous number. Did you make it up? Third, of course the cost of parking gets passed along to the customer, its a cost of doing business. Just like electricity, rent, employees, etc. Fourth, and most importantly, you obviously have no understanding of the term Libertarian if you think that the state giving money to local governments to make encourage them to charge for parking is Libertarian. The Libertarian thing to do would be for the state to butt out!

Jeff Gritchen
Hey, I have an idea. Lets get rid of ALL the government provided cars for politicians to encourage them to drive less.!!

Kathy Ryan
Long Beach breeds idiocy. Alan started his tax ideas in Long Beach and carried them on to Sacramento. He must have left his play book behind, because City Council members that followed cannot stop spending or taxing (increase fees). To raise revenue to support pensions, business friendly, Long Beach now charges $33.00 for a change of address, something no business, whether it be banks, mortgage companies, credit card or telephone companies, etc. charge. In order to justify the charge for just a change of address, business have to complete a whole new form as if they were applying for a new business license. As if $335.00 for a business license wasn't enough. That for a single employee. I moved my office across the street with 2 digits difference in the address. Instead of having me complete the top portion of the form to change the address, I have to answer questions that are totally irrelevant to my business. This additional charge for change of address started about three years ago. I am sure lots of people have similar stories. It would be interesting to hear how many different ways the City has raised or initiated new fees by biling the taxpayers. A suggestion to Long Beach City Hall. Print change of address information on the back of the new license bill. Very simple, and it might save the taxpayers the cost of a couple of employees, plus it would be something real Business Friendly Cities do.

Castles & Sandbags
Someone should do the math on how many bus trips (therefore gas) it would take to carry the groceries for a family of four. Guess no more big shopping sprees at Marshall's if we have to lug it from store to bus-bench to front door. sheeesh, i must be stupid, coz i don't get it.

tired of these morons
I live in Long Beach, and I did not vote for this idiot hack. I guess he didn't get the memo that global warming is a scam. I am so livid with this moron that I am thinking of taking him on as a personal crusade for common sense. If I have to go door to door, telling my neighbors about this moron, I will. I suggest the others do as well. I have already found his facebook page and have plastered it on mine, so that people can leave comments like the ones here on his personal page.

redderek
Hey Judy C. Your comments regarding my analogy to George Orwell's book and Lowenthal's Healty Pet law makes no sense. Read before you yap!

Herbert Philbrick
Hon.Comrade Alan, I remember the ideas of other comrades that set behind the colors of the American Flag, too as it sets on your desk as pictured. We are all not fools. Even John Muir has said: "Shame on you Hon. State Senator Alan Lowenthal (D - Long Beach) for wanting to use up more trees." That uses much paper for controlling paid parking for public use of government services. Shame, Shame, Shame!

New Attitude
I am shopping elsewhere. NOT Long Beach. I will be taking my valuable money to SAVE and shop at Lakewood, Bellflower, Cerritos, Orange County, and elsewhere. These boots were made for driving and walking. Who needs Lowenthal. Turns out to be a negative for this positive attitude.

Question Elitists
Bear in mind that our ruling class elites (and their staff members, extended families, et al) do not live by the same set of rules they laud over we commoners. I find it ironic that Sen. Lowenthal specifically brings up "government offices" as an example of where parking rates should be increased. When he says that there should be no free parking at government offices, I assure you that he is NOT talking about HIS (and his staff's) reserved and free parking at the state capitol! NOTE: If our rulers were charged for daily parking like we would be charged (out of pocket and unable to write the expense off, or have our office petty cash reimburse us), then the elites might be less inclined to show up to work everyday. That, I would argue, could be a GOOD THING for California. But what Sen. Lowenthal IS talking about is charging for parking for the commoners! We, who may have a concern for the way Sacramento is attempting to micro-manage our lowly lives. I think it is clear that he does NOT want US to have "free parking" because that just makes access to our rulers "too damned easy!" And ha(!), when was the last time YOU did not have to pay to park to visit a government office anyway? We, in Sen. Lowenthal's district, even have to PAY to park at the main Long Beach library (in the parking structure or on the street at the meters)! Remember, we are not to question the intelligent decisions our ruling class elites make over how we are to live; THEY will make sure that we live long, healthy lives riding on buses like drones. Stick a pacifier in your mouth and suck on it!

richard rodriguez
on the free parking bill. its stupid and im in your district now and i will vote you out. your distroying ca and america. you need to resign now. thank you

Paul
OK, It looks like just about everyone posting has the Lowental's pegged. Why do we keep voting them and there trained doubles, Garcia, O'Donnel,Johnson, etc. into office?

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Ryan ZumMallen has served as the managing editor of the LBPOST.com since 2007. He graduated from CSULB with a degree in Print Journalism in 2008 and is a member of the 2009 class of Leadership Long Beach. You can find him on various basketball courts around the city.

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