In Oakland, starting this Sunday, free afternoon parking will be no more.
City officials say this change is good for business. But some drivers and residents don’t agree.
Sunday brunch is big at Fluid 510 in downtown Oakland.
“Chicken and waffles, for sure, is our most popular item. People love coming out for that. And BoozieBrunch approved…one of the best, and most followed influencers around brunch,” said owner Sean Sullivan.
But starting this weekend, parking meters won’t be free anymore on Sundays. Sullivan says that will hurt business and likely lead to a drop in tax revenue for the city.
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“We are already concerned about it. We are already seeing a drop off on Sunday of people. I got numbers from Open Table to verify in reservations since this has just come up,” Sullivan said.
City officials say free Sunday parking is tied to what they call outdated blue laws from the 1950s. Those laws prohibited business activity on Sundays to promote rest and religious observance — and it was during a time when most businesses were closed on Sunday.
“Now, Sunday is one of our busiest shopping days. And we are updating our metering hours to reflect that reality,” said Jamie Parks, assistant director at Oakland’s Department of Transportation.
Parks said the nationwide trend is moving to Sunday meters. It is already in effect in San Francisco, Walnut Creek and Sacramento.
“We have seen when we install parking meters, we are able to increase turnover,” Parks said.
MORE: San Francisco approves plan to start charging for parking at Golden Gate Park
Parks said this is about better city policy. Turnover means more customers. But not everyone is convinced.
“What the City of Oakland is advancing is predicated on the notion that most of the parkers are visitors. It does not adequately address the question of those who live there,” said Professor David Fraser at Cal State East Bay.
Fraser said this is about economic vitality versus convenience. He adds that good public policy could also be a free day of parking for residents.
Others like, Dr. Jennifer Tran, president of the Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce, argues that not every Oakland neighborhood is busy on Sunday. So, this doesn’t have to be a citywide policy.
“Folks need incentives to actually come to Oakland, given the challenges around public safety. It is a deterrent for many people already,” Tran said.
Parks said the city still does not know how much revenue the extra metering day will bring in for Oakland’s general fund.
Starting Sunday, April 12, the meters run from noon to 6 p.m.
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