East Palo Alto council members clashed over a parking permit proposal that would charge residents for street parking. Longtime Councilman Rubin Abrica opposed new members' support, claiming there was no community consultation. The council voted 3-2 to delay the project. Vice President of Hexagon Transportation Consultants, Michelle Hunt, noted limits on permits per household. Councilman Mark Dinan emphasized that community engagement could complicate decisions, while Carlos Romero stressed the proposal's significant impact on working-class and minority residents.
"I'm sure if all of you were not here (new Councilman Mark Dinan) would be making a motion to approve the ordinance right away," longtime Councilman Rubin Abrica said to the packed room Tuesday night.
"There are legitimate reasons for not wanting to make the permit parking free, and there are also legitimate reasons for wanting to remove the community participation part of this," Dinan said at the meeting.
"Arguably, I would say this has more impact for working-class folks in this community, for people of color, for folks who have to survive," Romero said at the meeting.
Dinan said that several times community-driven programs didn't work. He said with community engagement, things get overcomplicated and instead it would be easier for council to make decisions.
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