San Diego, CA
Imposing parking fees at Balboa Park will hammer the less affluent
Re “Balboa blues: City’s push to require paid parking at popular, beloved landmark could be devastating” (June 22): Please allow me to add my two cents regarding city leaders’ plans to charge parking fees to visitors at Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo. I’m a native San Diegan. My father supported a family of six on his salary as a plumbing contractor. I can’t overemphasize how much my family loved the parks! We always had a picnic lunch, as we couldn’t afford the vendors. Our developing minds learned so much at these two parks and we had great family time. Now, if the city installs paid parking meters, our crown jewels will belong to the elite.
And now The Old Globe Theater is charging extra for seats on the aisle — just like the airlines charging extra for a minute amount of extra legroom. We seniors, and others, need that extra room. Please don’t take away the arts, in any form, from the general populace of San Diego!
— Kim Godwin, Del Mar