Development, parking tickets and "revenue"

Mike Kepka

A letter to the editor in today's Chronicle:

Transfer the cost

I read with some bemusement “Battling the sins of S.F.’s errant drivers” (Dec. 26). So let’s break this problem down. Start with our “development at all cost” political climate, which brings in the huge increase in people and traffic which are the basis of the problem. Add a construction boom, including housing, commercial and associated infra-structure expansion, with attendant heavy vehicle traffic, street repairs and closures. Tear down a few freeways to make way for yet more development. Increase housing density while providing insufficient parking. Now, when the victims of this godawful mess become angry and rude, act sanctimonious and decide it’s an “enforcement problem.” Never mind that the Department of Parking and Traffic is one of the few city agencies that performs (too) effectively, because...it’s a revenue center. And yes, the cost of development here is astronomical, and “affordable housing” is a euphemism for transferring its cost to someone else.

Randy Broman

San Francisco

Rob's comment:

Broman is right about the "revenue" from parking tickets. The last Transportation Fact Sheet says the city made $88,889,809 from parking tickets (page 11) in FY 2012/2013.