Below is a message from Jackie of Jackie's Restaurant. If you'd like to write a letter to the Council and other County officials, an outline for one is posted below along with appropriate contact information.
If you'd like to sign a petition, you can do so at Gateway's Heliport Gallery ; Alchemy or Jackies.
STOP THE INITIATIVE TO EXTEND METERED PARKING HOURS
June 28, 2007Dear South Silver Springers:
The County Council has passed an initiative to extend metered parking effective July 1 in Silver Spring. At that time, parking meter hours will begin as early as 7:00 am and end as late as 10:00 pm, and extend to Saturday, depending on the site and type of parking. Please consider how this measure will harm independent small businesses in our area and join me in opposing it. A list of email addresses for County Councilmembers, the County Executive and others are presented below. Please insert their names in the email below and forward it to them with your signature. Time is of the essence; please act now!
Thank you.
Dear Councilman ^ OR OTHER TITLE :
I strongly oppose the initiative to extend metered parking hours which is due to go into effect on July 1 in Silver Spring for the following reasons, and ask your help in immediately rescinding it:
- It is patently unfair; it hurts the independent business owner while helping the national and regional chain stores. Ellsworth businesses and those close to it will benefit at the expense of others just blocks away. The Wayne Avenue and Ellsworth garages are exempt from this new law and will remain free on evenings and weekends. This will drive patrons to Ellsworth to avoid feeding meters elsewhere. To what extent will the County continue to subsidize large developers on the backs of residents and small businesses?
- It will retard desired growth during what is already a slowing market; it is a disincentive to attracting new businesses, especially independent restaurants and retail stores which rely on street parking.
- It makes Silver Spring less competitive with neighboring DC. This is especially true for restaurants, which in Silver Spring are already at a competitive disadvantage with DC because of the County surcharge on alcohol. Having to pay for evening parking will be one more reason diners will travel over the DC line or force Silver Spring restaurants to incur the added expense of valet parking. This competitive disadvantage also extends to other merchants and retail stores.
- Silver Spring still needs help. This law assumes Silver Spring has already "made it". This is far from true. Many businesses, especially independent restaurants, merchants, and retail stores away from the town center, are struggling and still need the County's support. Free evening parking is a common advantage these businesses are afforded in most regions and we need it to survive.
The success of Silver Spring's urban revival is far from guaranteed. It is in its nascent stages and must be nurtured until it is stable. Our independent businesses--both those who have been here for years and those of us who have taken the risk to locate her--need support. The last chapter is yet to be written: will Silver Spring be the model of success or the experiment that failed?
Your urgent attention is necessary to prevent this initiative from going into effect.
Thank you,
^ YOUR NAME ^
PLEASE SEND TO:
Phil Andrews
240-777-7906
councilmember.andrews@montgomerycountymd.gov
Roger Berliner
240-777-7828
councilmember.berliner@montgomerycountymd.gov
Marc Elrich
240-777-7966
councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov
Valerie Ervin
240-777-7960
councilmember.ervin@montgomerycountymd.gov
Nancy Floreen
240-777-7959
councilmember.floreen@montgomerycountymd.gov
Mike Knapp, V.P
240-777-7955
councilmember.knapp@montgomerycountymd.gov
George Leventhal
240-777-7811
councilmember.leventhal@montgomerycountymd.gov
Marilyn J. Praisner, Pres.
240-777-7968
councilmember.praisner@montgomerycountymd.gov
Duchy Trachtenberg
240-777-7964
councilmember.trachtenberg@montgomerycountymd.gov
Gary Stith
Gary.Stith@montgomerycountymd.gov
Mel Tul
Mel.Tull@montgomerycountymd.gov
Ike Leggett
ocemail@montgomerycountymd.gov
Pradeep Ganguly (Dept of Economic Development)
pradeep.ganguly@montgomerycountymd.gov
Jane Redicker
jredicker@gsscc.org
