NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Some business owners say the proposed increase in parking fees will impact people who live here more than the tourists who the city believes will pay the lion’s share of the new revenue.
The city is looking at a plan that would extend the hours and fees for parking meter operations. All fees would be increased by 50 cents per hour except in the French Quarter where the fee will double to $3 per hour. Also, parking hours would be extended from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
The Landrieu administration expects the higher fee in the Quarter to affect tourist mostly.
Nick Detrich, owner of the Cane and Table restaurant in the French Quarter, says tourists stay at hotels and walk or take cabs — they don’t park cars. He says his customers and his workers will be affected more.
“In reality it’s more service industry people that are driving down to the French Quarter to park and work because they can’t afford to live down here either,” Detrich told WGNO News.
The New Orleans City Council will spend the next few weeks reviewing Mayor Landrieu’s budget proposal. The parking meters portion is expected to come up during the meeting on November 11th.