San Fran's Latest Battle Royale: Parking Meters

EVELYN NIEVES

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — This city's most popular neighborhoods are night owls, streets that come alive when the restaurants and pubs set the mood and light their candles. But try parking in these hot spots: no fun.

Now, in a move some cities have tried and others are considering in these hard times, San Francisco's transportation agency, anticipating a multi-million dollar deficit, is proposing a plan it says will help ease parking snafus. It wants to extend parking meter hours — up to midnight in the trendiest neighborhoods, and on Sundays everywhere.

Those who already find it hard to park on the streets in the day time are not happy.

"It's putting the penalty on the people who can least afford it," said Peter Govorchin, a music teacher for the San Francisco public schools who said he already averages $500 in parking tickets each year.

The move would raise more than $8 million a year, free up more parking spots and help business, says the San Francisco Metropolitan Transit Agency. But San Francisco, always game for a good fight, is in for a battle royale if other cities that have proposed or enacted meter changes are any indication.