No increased parking fines; Modestans can't afford them.

Last night I spoke in opposition to increased parking fines at the Modesto City Council meeting. I stated that the per capita income in Modesto is much less than that of other California cities of comparable populations in the Bay Area and Southern California. Under the measure approved by the City Council last night, the cost of an overtime parking fine will increase by $20.00, from $33.00 to $53.00. All other City parking fines will undergo similar increases.

Modestans cannot afford increased parking fines

As I see it, the People of Modesto cannot afford to pay markedly increased parking fines. The per capita income in Modesto is only $24,957! In Sacramento, which is one of the "comparable cities" referenced by City Staff as having higher parking fines, the per capita income is $67,902! In San Bernadino, another referenced city, the per capita income is $60,420. And in San Francisco, yet another referenced city, the per capita income is $55,567. 

Mayor Brandvold agreed that I made a good point about the per capita income in Modesto not being commensurate with that of the referenced, "comparable cities." The Mayor also stated that he was opposed to this increase until he is presented with a complete plan showing what needs the increased fines will be meeting and how the additional revenue will be used. 

                                 The purpose of parking fines

I also stated that fines are intended to encourage people to comply with the law, not to generate revenue for the City.  My comment was in response to a statement by Council member Jenny Kenoyer that the increased parking fines will help offset a $6 million shortfall in the City's current parking revenue and pay for updates to the City's parking garages. All that is well and good, but that is not the purpose of parking fines. If anything, the increased revenue should be used to set up programs aimed at parking violation diversion and education, not for parking garages. 

                                  Blaming the Modesto Police

The City Staff presented several charts and graphs that showed that revenue from parking fines went down in 2017 and 2018. The City Staff blamed the Modesto Police for those shortfalls, stating that they were due to lax enforcement because, as they stated, the Modesto Police had "other priorities." I asked the City Staff if they had considered that perhaps the People of Modesto complied with the law in those two years better than in other years. I asked them if they had proof that the fine shortfalls in 2017 and 2018 emanated from lax enforcement rather than increased compliance with the parking laws. The City Staff did not answer me.

                                    The toast of the town

As I see it, last night's Toast of the Town goes to Mayor Ted Brandvold. He realized that the People of Modesto cannot afford increased parking fines. He realized that he is there to represent the People of Modesto, not the City budget. He realized that he is not a bookkeeper or an accountant, but that he is a representative of the People and a leader. And last night he exemplified leadership in its finest sense.