The rise in parking tickets generated in downtown Toledo is a troubling sign that city decision-makers cannot align policy with the priority for prosperity ( “Toledo meter revenue and tickets climb,” Monday ).
Since free lunchtime parking was ended by City Council in 2021, tickets issued have risen from nearly 17,000 to more than 22,000. Revenue has grown over that time from $714,172 to $914,715.
The money is split between the Toledo Lucas County Port Authority, which operates the meters under a revenue sharing program with Toledo, and the city. The funds are earmarked for downtown beautification programs.
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But so far the only money spent has gone to upgrades on handheld equipment for the enforcement officers.
The fact that the only money spent from parking fines has been used to make downtown a significantly less inviting location for the 80-plus restaurants trying to hang on in a location with 43 percent fewer nearby workers than were downtown when the coronavirus struck is telling.
Blade reporter Kelly Kaczala interviewed owners and employees at multiple lunch spots who say the loss of business caused by the end of free parking from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. has hurt their bottom-line.
The entire region has a stake in the seemly small issue of downtown meter enforcement since 80 percent of the first-class office space that exists in Greater Toledo is located downtown. The ecosystem of a well functioning office location requires a plethora of nearby options for food.
Even if Toledo and the Port Authority was actually spending money on downtown beautification, it would not overcome the harm done to extremely important existing businesses. But the fact that no money has been spent on the purported purpose for ending the free lunch parking greatly multiplies the damage.
Toledo inflicts downtown business with an impediment without the mitigation of spending on the purpose for the meters and the fines. That is double-barreled bad governance.
Free meters after 6 p.m. and on the weekends help downtown night spots without detracting from surface parking lot business when the Walleye or Mud Hens have a game, or when there’s a concert at Huntington Center or an event at the Glass City Center.
Toledo simply cannot afford to detract from the attractiveness of daytime downtown collecting fines that amount to chump change compared with damage they do to struggling businesses the city badly needs.
City Council needs to know there is nothing more beautiful than a vibrant downtown with thriving businesses. When that is the vision, free lunch time parking will be restored immediately.
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