Parking Meters Protest in Susanville
December 12, 1956
A group of local citizens this week gave notice that they intend to circulate a petition demanding a special election for the purpose of voting on repeal of Ordinance No. 316, the parking meter ordinance.
The notice of intention states in part: “It should be noted that this ordinance does not require parking meters to be provided in any particular place. This matter is purely discretionary with the city engineer. The result of this is that two members of the city council have places of business within the parking meter zone, yet neither of these places have parking meters in the nearby parking places.
“Within the past two years when the parallel parking on Main street was before the city, the majority of the businessmen were assured by the then city council that parking meters were not to be placed in the City of Susanville, yet now, with less traffic in the City of Susanville than there was two years ago, we now have parking meters.
“The parking meter program now in effect in the City of Susanville allows for great injustice, discrimination, and inequities to prevail.
“It is not believed that the traffic and parking problem in Susanville is such as to warrant the installation of parking meters. And it is further believed that the presence of parking meters in the business district of the City of Susanville will encourage shoppers to trade at stores out of the parking meter area, and in stores away from the proximity of the City of Susanville.”
Harold L. Abbott is the attorney for the proponents.
