Residents tell council proposed parking-permit rules would hurt working families

During the meeting’s public-comment period, multiple East Palo Alto residents urged the council to stop or substantially revise the draft parking-permit ordinance, saying it would disproportionately harm working families and those who rely on multiple vehicles.

Nicole Stewart Crooks told the council the proposed permit program would impose new costs on households already facing rising utility and grocery prices and called for more door‑to‑door outreach rather than relying on a small sample. "You don't solve a problem by creating additional costs when people are barely surviving," she said. Several speakers echoed her demand for broader community engagement and raised practical concerns about enforcement and exemptions for multi‑generational households.

Other commenters highlighted safety and accessibility issues. Jeffrey Jordan described dangerous sightlines at stop signs caused by oversized work trucks and said inadequate enforcement of existing vehicle-code rules contributes to hazards. Some residents called for the city to first enforce existing laws before adding a fee-based permit program.

Speakers asked council to consider alternatives, including targeted enforcement of illegal commercial activity in residential areas, additional neighborhood outreach, and exemptions or no-fee permits for households with caregiving responsibilities. The council did not take a vote on the ordinance during the meeting; public comment will be part of the record as staff develops next steps.