A strange, dystopian drama of greed and malice plays out in San Diego—as the mayor and city council seemingly punish citizens for failing to approve a ballot measure last November that would have raised the local sales tax. The taste of recently reaped parking revenues, from a new ordinance, has the city chasing cash like sharks drawn to blood in the water.
On Jan. 1, 2025, but not fully enforced for another two months, a new statewide daylighting law went into effect that technically prohibits parking vehicles any closer than 20 feet from a crosswalk. But practically, any intersection where someone can cross applies. Initially, San Diego meter men and women handed out $77.50 tickets—more than 4,000 in less than the first 60 days. The, ah, program was so successful that the city quickly raised the fine to $117.50.
The law is so lucrative, San Diego wants to generate more parking revenues—by every onerous means imaginable. It’s like living in some Mafia ghetto where the crooks charge you for living in your own place or running a small business. You will pay—or else.
Phase II, as I call it, punishes people participating in events downtown at Petco Park, where two hours before and four hours after major events parking meters leap from $2.50 an hour to 10 bucks. Oh, and the statute allows up to $20 an hour, but San Diego officials want the citizenry to know how generous they are not to charge more. Ah, yet.
Why stop there, when parking pays so handsomely? Starting yesterday, paid parking hours extended by two hours across communities. That’s 8 p.m. here in University Heights and 10 p.m. along the coast—Pacific Beach, for example. Call that Phase III—and a half, if you like.
Whether or not you are a Bible believer, Sunday is considered by many people as a day of rest or play—certainly repast from work (depending on profession). Well, hell, Sunday is no longer a day of rest from parking enforcement. You got to pay seven days henceforth, effective this very weekend. That’s the other half of Phase III.
Still to come, with Phase IV (again my nomenclature): The ever-popular Balboa Park will convert to mostly paid parking, presumably from Jan. 1, 2026. San Diego officials are still working out details. Discussed: $5 to $15 daily rates from eight to eight. Greed will drive the need for even more revenue and so even higher fees, methinks.
I know because of the insanity regarding parking meters. In my neighborhood they were $1.25 per hour until recently doubling to the aforementioned $2.50. But, and here’s the catch: For a maximum of two hours. Along Adams Avenue between North and Park Blvd is street parking that no longer is free. Go there any day and no cars are parked between eight and six—and I must check to see about that newly added 8 p.m. extension.
Correctly, the September issue of University Heights Community Association News features front-page headline: “Paid Parking on Adams Not Working for UH Businesses or the City”. Right, the city makes nothing if no one parks and local businesses struggle, particularly with employees that must move vehicles every two hours. If someone works an eight-hour shift, what economic sense does paying $20 a day to park make?
That brings us to the Featured Image, captured today using Nikon Zf and NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S lens. The 8 p.m is a sticker placed over the numeral six. But notice how the sign still indicates Sunday parking is still free, when it absolutely isn’t. Yikes! Dispute the ticket, bud! Vitals, aperture manually set: f/1.8, ISO 100, 1/640 sec, 50mm; 7:52 a.m. PDT.
One last thing: The title is a snarky take on Park and Ride lots. Gosh, will the city charge for those someday, too? Gulp, Phase V?