Paid parking was ‘foregone conclusion’ in Fremont

Last year, the city met with Fremont residents and businesses to hear feedback on ways to improve parking in the neighborhood. One of the city’s suggestions was paid parking, an idea that sparked fierce opposition, but by March, parking meters appeared in Central Fremont. Now the city is starting a similar process in West Seattle, and the director of Fremont’s Chamber of Commerce says it’s not about improving parking, but raising money. “Someone at the top determined Fremont is getting pay stations, period,” Jessica Vets told the Seattle Times. “And it really didn’t matter what we said.” No decision has been made in West Seattle, but residents there told the Times they believe what happened in Fremont will likely happen there, as well.