Muni Drivers Derail San Francisco Parking Fee Discussion
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - A new policy to charge Muni drivers in San Francisco a monthly fee for parking was temporarily derailed at Tuesday's Municipal Transportation Agency Board meeting. The matter was taken off the agenda following complaints from the Transport Workers Union.
KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:
Last year, the MTA board decided to charge Muni drivers $80 a month for parking to plug a $1.5 million budget hole. However, on Tuesday it backtracked, with MTA Chief Nathaniel Ford saying there will be more discussion with the union.
"The employees have a concern of magnitude, and the board felt that we should reconsider it," said Ford.
Rafael Cabrera of the Transport Workers Union said the parking charge is a form of punishment.
"My members are fed up with it," said Cabrera. "Every time we look around there's talk of discipline."
However, Dan Murphy of Rescue Muni said it's a matter of fairness.
"I think that asking them to pay for parking, when everybody else in San Francisco has to pay for their parking is perfectly reasonable. There's no punishment in that," said Murphy.
The parking fee could end up back on the agenda at some point, or it could disappear entirely, leaving Muni in search of another way to balance its budget.
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