As the issue of paid on-street parking heats up, residents opposed to it now have a place to congregate and let off steam. Beginning tomorrow, Nov. 2, at 6:30 p.m., Warwick’s on Girard will hold the first “Free La Jolla” meeting. The meeting is meant to be the antithesis of the scheduled parking meetings, wherein some business owners and residents say neither their questions nor their opinions are heard.
“I have customers who come into the store, frustrated, asking what they can do to help,” said Nancy Warwick, business owner and newly appointed leader of Free La Jolla. “But until now it wasn’t organized well. Now we’re putting something together where people can ask questions about the parking situation and where they can gather real knowledge.”
Free La Jolla is meant to be for anyone “against the residential parking permits or against paid on-street parking,” Warwick said, adding that the meeting will have refreshments and information.
In addition, residents can “volunteer their time, by signing up for various e-mail lists,” she said.
Many other community boards have condemned the parking proposal. Members of the La Jolla Town Council passed a motion to consider themselves officially against the parking proposal.
The La Jolla Traffic and Transportation Committee, the other parking board that said it was “trumped by the current parking board,” passed a motion at its Oct. 25 meeting to officially take a stand against the paid parking proposal due to its lack of specific information.
During last Thursday’s Traffic and Transportation Committee meeting, attendees argued with Martin Mosier, a member of the parking board, who presented the parking proposal. Mosier presented information and told attendees, most of whom were against paid on-street parking, that the board and Promote La Jolla had only received letters in favor of paid parking.
The La Jolla Town Council is asking people to send in any letters they have regarding the parking proposal, Warwick said.
“There’s flaws in the proposal,” she said. “People are used to La Jolla as being part of a community. But with the meters, it communicates to people that this is part of a business district and it’s no longer a community and they won’t really experience La Jolla the way they’ve experienced it.”
Although the Free La Jolla meeting was actually planned for last week, it was rescheduled due to the fires. Most businesses are against the parking plan, according to Warwick, who said she doesn’t know any resident in support of it.
The meeting will be held at 7812 Girard Ave. at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2. For more information, call (858) 454-0347.