Along Magazine Street Saturday, some shoppers didn't mind having to feed the meters. They've had to feed Saturday meters for the past several months since the city decided to add that day to collections.
The city's parking program does pump cash into its budget, but some business owners say Saturdays should be meter free.
Last month, Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced the city would continue enforcing parking meter policies on Saturdays in busy, high density commercial zones like Magazine Street.
Shop owner Becca Fox believes the policy hurts her business.
"Quite a few times I've had customers who have either come in the store and I remind them. By the time they go back out, they already have a ticket,” Fox said.“And you don't even see the meter maids around because they're in the van, they come in, they ticket real quick, and then they're out. If you do happen to say, 'Oh, I was actually in the process of getting my slip,' they don't care."
It's a feeling shared by other merchants along this busy shopping corridor, like Ian Colwell, who says ticketing is too aggressive altogether, but especially on Saturdays.
"There's nothing beneficial besides a money maker, and these people don't have any mercy,"he said.
Colwell says his customers are helping out the local economy by coming out and shopping, a reason he believes they should get a break from the meters.
"This is their free day. This is their day to shop and in this economy, they should be free to park," Colwell said.
The city argues meters actually help small businesses by increasing turnover in parking spots, therefore bringing in more new customers throughout the day.
A spokesman with the city administration says the Saturday rules conform with best practices in other cities across the country, but officials say concerns from Magazine Street merchants will be evaluated.
Becca Fox hopes sooner than later.
"I say it makes our customers angry, that it's really annoying that, here we are, this city that's supposed to be very open and welcoming, but, it's not a very welcoming attitude when we're giving all our tourists tickets," she said.
In addition to Magazine Street, Saturday meter hours are also enforced on Oak Street, in the Riverbend, French Quarter, and the Warehouse District.
We requested an interview with the city for this story, but no one was available.
Last month, Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced the city would continue enforcing parking meter policies on Saturdays in busy, high density commercial zones like Magazine Street.
Shop owner Becca Fox believes the policy hurts her business.
"Quite a few times I've had customers who have either come in the store and I remind them. By the time they go back out, they already have a ticket,” Fox said.“And you don't even see the meter maids around because they're in the van, they come in, they ticket real quick, and then they're out. If you do happen to say, 'Oh, I was actually in the process of getting my slip,' they don't care."
It's a feeling shared by other merchants along this busy shopping corridor, like Ian Colwell, who says ticketing is too aggressive altogether, but especially on Saturdays.
"There's nothing beneficial besides a money maker, and these people don't have any mercy,"he said.
Colwell says his customers are helping out the local economy by coming out and shopping, a reason he believes they should get a break from the meters.
"This is their free day. This is their day to shop and in this economy, they should be free to park," Colwell said.
The city argues meters actually help small businesses by increasing turnover in parking spots, therefore bringing in more new customers throughout the day.
A spokesman with the city administration says the Saturday rules conform with best practices in other cities across the country, but officials say concerns from Magazine Street merchants will be evaluated.
Becca Fox hopes sooner than later.
"I say it makes our customers angry, that it's really annoying that, here we are, this city that's supposed to be very open and welcoming, but, it's not a very welcoming attitude when we're giving all our tourists tickets," she said.
In addition to Magazine Street, Saturday meter hours are also enforced on Oak Street, in the Riverbend, French Quarter, and the Warehouse District.
We requested an interview with the city for this story, but no one was available.
