Merchants oppose Somerville plan to increase parking violation fine from $18 to $24 

 A recommendation to increase parking fines 25 percent in downtown Somerville couldn’t come at a worse time, according to the president of the Somerville Business & Professional Association.

“I think this is very bad for the businesses of Somerville,” said Paul Sanford. “The economy is terrible and this would chase more customers away from shopping in Somerville. This is the kind of thing that really gets people angry; I just don’t think they should do it.”

After years of delays, construction is moving along on the long-awaited ShopRite supermarket downtown at the former site of the Pathmark Supermarket.  The ground breaking was held March 22 and was heralded by Mayor Brain Gallagher as the key to the borough’s revitalization.

JSM Properties intends to develop the long-dormant tract along West Main Street into a mixed use of two- and three-story apartments and new stores; merchants have been waiting years for what many believe is the salvation of the downtown shopping district and are stunned by the possibility of a parking fine increase.

Downtown merchants have begun circulating a petition opposed to the plan which would increase the fine for overtime parking from $18 to $24, according to Sanford. “This is not a done deal, Council hasn’t looked at it yet,” Gallagher said. The Parking and Traffic Committee recommendation will be considered by Gallagher and the Borough Council at its next meeting April 18.

Sanford, who owns a jewelry store on Main Street, said the increase sends the wrong signal to shoppers from a downtown that has been struggling to remain viable in a down economy. Sanford, who represents the SBPA on the borough’s Parking and Traffic Committee voted against the advisory board’s recommendation.

Randi Pitts, owner of Xpress Gear on Main Street, is heading up the petition drive against the increase. “A bunch of merchants and restaurants just disagree with an increase at this time,” Pitts said. “With the way the economy is we just feel it is bad timing, it will chase people out of Somerville. It’s almost like they (town officials) don’t know what it’s like to sit here and struggle and then see your customers get tickets. It’s bad enough they get ticketed already, it just creates bad publicity.”