Downtown San Jose businesses claim parking fee drives people away

The San Jose Mercury reports:

San Jose is hailing its new downtown parking fees as a success, but some business owners are blasting the $5 weekend charge, saying it's driving customers away.

Since the fee went into effect in July, the number of people parking in key downtown lots has dropped dramatically, city officials say.

Parking at the two most popular parking garages, on Market and Third streets, has dropped by 34 and 43 percent, respectively.

While city officials on Tuesday said that's a sign the program is keeping undesirables away, businesses near the garages say they're getting stung.

"If our objective is to have empty parking garages, then by all accounts we are doing wonderful," said John Conway, owner of Britannia Arms pub in San Pedro Square. "If the objective is to draw people to the downtown core, then we are failing miserably."

Conway said he has seen business drop by about 20 percent.

It's hard to compete when people can park for free somewhere else.I guess San Jose wants less economic activity.