Downtown Santiago wants parking meters back

[NewsWhore]

The Supreme Court of Justice ordered the annulment of the contract between the city government of Santiago and the Blue Parking Caribbean for the operation of parking meters in downtown Santiago. The Supreme Court said that the resolution of the city government dating back to 26 September 2005 that had authorized the regulating of public space violated the Constitution. Earlier a Santiago Court, under judge Cecilia Badia, on March 2010 had ruled the parking meters were illegal and violated the Constitution. The case would go to the Supreme Court that ruled against their operation.

But now the city government of Santiago, under new Mayor Gilberto Serulle is open to talks for the installation of parking meters again. Those in favor, primarily storeowners and businessmen, say the parking meters are needed to organize parking in the area. The present chaos, they say, is affecting their businesses. The parking meters have the support of the Association of Storeowners (Asociacion de Duenos de Tiendas), Commecial and Industrial Associations of Santiago (Acis) and the Santiago Strategic Development Council, the leading business organizations of the town.

Carlos Lora, advocate for the parking meters, says they should be installed only in the historic downtown area.

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