I am writing this petition as a local, born and raised in the historic city of Saint Augustine, Florida; a place I have seen transform dramatically over the years. Indeed, we have seen a significant shift in housing and parking, where many streets that were once freely available for parking have now been taken over by privately-owned residents, Flagler students, and the city of Saint Augustine parking division. From my experience, many of us locals have had to adapt to unforeseen circumstances, such as leaving our homes an hour earlier than expected to beat the traffic, find parking, and walk considerable distances to get to work.

This petition is a call to our city government and administrators to consider the hard-working locals of downtown Saint Augustine. We propose that specific parking spaces should be set aside for those working in the downtown area. These spaces would help to alleviate the stress of both finding parking and the financial burden currently placed on locals.

Moreover, a revision in the parking fees imposed by the city is necessary. Currently, locals are paying $2.50 per hour for parking - a cost many find challenging to bear given the current economic situation. We suggest that a decrease in parking fees to $1.50 per hour would be a lot more equitable and accommodating, particularly for the daily wage workers.

Support this petition to create a more local-oriented, viable solution to the parking issues faced by our fellow citizens. Sign now if you believe that Saint Augustine workers deserve decreased parking rates and dedicated parking spaces.