OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via our website. Please include your daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is in response to an article about parking in downtown Orillia, published Sept. 7.
I find it amazing that the City of Orillia is still so overzealous, especially during the major construction that will last for years, of their management of parking.
They have just raised the rates for parking in Orillia, which puts pressure on people who want to shop downtown, causing more stress to shop owners who are still financially coming out of the COVID pandemic.
Perhaps it is time the city became more transparent with the monies received from parking in Orillia. The real issue here is the amount of dollars, that I believe still goes into general coffers for the city, from their collection of parking violations.
This income from parking tickets has to be included in a transparent report even though they are two separate entities in the city budget. Parking tickets feed off parking. That cannot be denied.
There is a motto that is on full display in Orillia saying, “Shop Locally.” Perhaps we should change that to “Support Your Community.” It is time the mayor, council and staff that advises them get their heads out of the sand and starts to truly support the waterfront and downtown businesses, which represent the majority of the dollars taken in from parking violations.
As an aside, can anyone tell me the number of management staff (not including council) that pay taxes and shop in Orillia?
Allan Francoz
Orillia
