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Malfeasance - Parking Meters

 



Malfeasance - Parking Meters


Well, it looks like the City of North Myrtle Beach has decided to stick it to those of us that like to do business in North Myrtle Beach.  In case, you're not up to speed on the parking meter situation in North Myrtle Beach, you'll soon find out that it's gonna cost you $4 per hour just to park your old jalopy practically anywhere in North Myrtle Beach.


Now before you defenders of parking meters get your noses all out of joint, I understand that I can still park free at most big box stores.  Oh yeah, there's plenty of parking at the shopping centers that are full of businesses owned and operated by companies that are headquartered outside of North Myrtle Beach and Horry County.


For the record, I don't drive to North Myrtle Beach to shop and eat at the big box stores.  I can do that in cities closer to where I live.  I go to North Myrtle Beach to spend a little money and a whole lot of time with the mom and pop merchants that give the city it's character and charm.  Now, I'm gonna have to spend a little more money and a lot less time with the business owners that make me want to go to North Myrtle Beach in the first place.


As for those of that were figuring you could get rid of some of that spare change in your car's console or that little hole where your ashtray used to be, you better think again.  Most of these new parking meters will only accept a debit or credit card.  (I don't even want to get started on how I feel about a cashless society.)  So, I reckon the real reason that the coin operated parking meters went away is because of the human factor.  The digital way means less theft and loss and less manpower.  Nobody wants a meter maid dropping a days take of quarters, nickels and dimes in a storm drain.


We're also told that the money raised from these increased parking fees will go to a fund to improve the city.  In my opinion, if you want to improve the city, get rid of the parking meters.  I figured that somebody would look at how the City of Myrtle Beach has already ticked off a double hand full of folks with their parking meter nonsense.  I especially get my dander up when I see a parking meter at a public beach access.  Did you know the land that those beach access areas sit on in Myrtle Beach was given to the city by that big family owned company that has had more to do with the growth of our area than any of these so called parking meter experts?


The bottom line, parking meters are bad for business... unless you want to give vistors to your city the business.  If you have a dissenting opinion, then you're probably just idling in a fire lane.


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