The Montgomery County Council has concluded you still have too much spending money, and darn it if you aren't spending too much of it at Bethesda shops and restaurants!
So, once again, the council is initiating another one of what they call, "conversations."
We know what the conversation is: it's the council asking you, "What's in your wallet?" That's all they ever do.
Yesterday, a council committee heartily endorsed the following parking fee increases for the Bethesda central business district (new cost in bold):
Long-term parking: from 75 cents to 80 cents an hour
Monthly pass: from $140
to $150
Short-term parking: from $1 to $1.25 an hour
It's outrageous.
Note that Silver Spring will continue to be subsidized by us. Parking will continue to be cheaper in downtown Silver Spring. So when you park and have dinner at American Tap Room at Bethesda Row, you're not only paying the full charge for yourself, but for a portion of the parking fee for the guy who's dining at Romano's Macaroni Grill in Silver Spring at the same time. Ain't it cool?
The full council will vote on the increase this month.
They don't seem to be in touch with the current financial pressures downtown Bethesda businesses, workers, residents and visitors are under.
But then, when are they? It's interesting that there is a claim that the county is short on revenue. So why is the current budget proposal bigger than last year's? If we can't afford more, why would we spend more?
Eliminate 3 parking lots, make parking more frustrating, and now make it more expensive.
Boy, that county council sure knows how to help Bethesda businesses!
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