Downtown parking eats chunk of workers' earningsBy Abi Nicholas (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Hailey Nagel is an innovative stylist at Allure Salon on Upper King Street. She commutes from Mount Pleasant five days a week, paying $12 a day, or $2,880 a year, to park her car during work. "Parking takes a big hunk of my paycheck," Nagel said. Actually, parking takes 16 percent of her paycheck. Nagel uses the city-owned Camden/ Exchange garage on John Street, between Meeting and King. She considers herself lucky that the closest parking garage to the salon is not one of the county garages that increased its fees April 1. Not so lucky are members of the retail workforce — sales associates, servers, bartenders, chefs and managers — on the lower part of the peninsula who park in one of two county garages downtown. Watchdog seriesSee past stories, photos and video from the Parking Cheaters series. The garage at King and Queen streets and the one on Cumberland Street increased hourly parking rates to $1 every half-hour, with a $20 maximum fee, earlier this month. Previously, motorists paid 75 cents for the first and second half-hour and $1 for each additional hour, with a $13 daily maximum. Nearly half of those parking in the county's garages pay hourly. After County Council voted 4-2 to increase the garage fees in early March, Chairman Tim Scott, who voted against the fee increase, told The Post and Courier that he felt the new rates were steep. "We weren't talking about simply 25 cents," Scott said. Rather, downtown workers are looking at thousands of dollars each year. --Full-time retail sales workers in the Charleston-North Charleston metropolitan area average earnings of $12.23 an hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics National Compensation Survey released last year. Those workers who park in the county garages pay the maximum per day, doling out $4,800 per year on parking, or just more than 20 percent of their paychecks. --City garages, which earlier this year raised fares for the first hour of parking, charge a quarter more for the first and second half-hour, typically with a $10 to $12 maximum. They don't drain the bank account quite as much, but retail employees who use them still need to budget for more than 10 percent of their earnings to be spent on parking. The downtown restaurant workforce has an even bigger bill to swallow than the retail employees. --Averaging $7.26 an hour, according to the compensation survey, full-time food and beverage employees — including cooks, tipped waiters and waitresses and fast food and counter workers — hand over more than 34 percent of their monthly earnings for parking. (Put into perspective, the traditional rule of thumb is that no more than 30 percent of monthly take-home pay should go toward housing.) --Sliced another way, they work about two hours and 45 minutes — more than one-third of their shift — before paying off the daily fee for parking in a county garage. A shopping and dining mecca, the Holy City is home to about 350 retail establishments and more than 200 accommodation and food services locations, according to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2005, the most recent figures available. Almost 80 percent of the retail shops and more than 73 percent of the restaurants and hotels in the city are on the lower end of the peninsula, where the two county parking garages are located. Randon Nyers, a manager at Pottery Barn on lower King Street, said the parking situation for employees is "terrible." The closest garage for Pottery Barn employees is the privately owned garage next to Eco Fitness on Wentworth Street, across from the Renaissance Hotel. The garage charges $1 for every 20 minutes, which means a part-time employee with a four-hour shift will fork over $12 at the end of the day, he said. But the parking problem on the peninsula goes beyond money, Nyers said. The lack of spaces for his employees causes them to drive around for 20 minutes or more searching for a space, rendering them late. When desperate for parking, Nyers said, employees will park in residential spaces and either leave work every two hours to move their cars or stomach a hefty residential parking ticket. And metered spaces are out of the question. "There are never any open," he said. If there were, paying an $8 ticket for letting the meter run out would be the cheapest way for a full-time retail or food and beverage worker to park on the peninsula. The worst side effect of the city's "severely damaged" parking situation isn't employees clocking in late or going AWOL to play musical cars, Nyers said; it's finding people to hire. "We pay competitive wages to compensate for the parking," he said, "but a lot of times we have to hire college students who live in the dorms and can walk to work. "In home decor, though, we'd prefer to hire more mature, experienced associates, but a lot of good prospects turn jobs down because it's not worth it to them to lose a chunk of what they make in a shift to parking." Reach Abi Nicholas at 937-5524 or anicholas@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 31 comment(s)
Posted by CedarPosts on May 27, 2008 at 6:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This could open a Pandora's box but you should see what they charge in Boston, NYC or even Charlotte!
$12.00 a day is nothing!
BTW Parking should be consolidated and run by either the county or the city and rates should be uniform regardless of location.
Nothing gets me steamed more than the guy in the pricey sports car or expensive SUV who parks where they want just because the rules don't apply to them.
Photo's and more at www.cedarposts.blogspot.com
Posted by SteveWynn on May 27, 2008 at 6:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
But, Charleston is such a charming and gracious city! These folks should just thank their lucky stars they are fortunate enough to work here. Seriously though, greed is rampant in this place. It's nice, but it's not that nice.
Posted by Thomas1776 on May 27, 2008 at 6:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
These parking garages belong to all of us. This government belongs to us, too.
Band together and force council to lower the rates back down. There is no rational need to have raised them. This kind of nonsense has got to be stopped by these people we have that are SUPPOSE to be representing us!
Posted by watchdog on May 27, 2008 at 7:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We need to make parking for the workers reasonable. This town will progress without these wonderful people. They are the nuts and bolts of this machine. The meter parking is over enforced, come on city counsel, help out the people that pay your salary.
Posted by billtom on May 27, 2008 at 7:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First, to CedarPosts, salaries in NYC and Boston are a LOT higher than here, so you can not compare. A suggestion to the council. Why not reduce or return a percentage of the parking fees to the workers on a monthly basis. But the worker would have to prove it by providing a paystub and a receipt for the parking. That would show the # of hours worked and hopefully prevent abuse.
Posted by carolinadude on May 27, 2008 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
billtom: great suggestion based upon common sense. Unfortunately, "there's no common sense in government"!! Also many of the workers who commute to the city are not residents of the city and cannot "vote the rascals out." It's left therefore to the employers/business owners to apply pressure upon council to offer some type of rebate program to the workers. The downtown tourism "cashcow" could be in trouble if this problem is not solved. COUNCILMEN, WAKE UP!!
Posted by wpc3iop on May 27, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
billtom: Great idea to give the downtown workers a break on parking...that's why no one in government will allow it to happen! My wife works for MUSC and now rides the CARTA bus to work ($5.00 a month, THAT'S RIGHT, $5.00 a month) to save money on gas and parking...
Posted by amylrod on May 27, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Thomass1776. And CedarPost, I don't know what the average pay is in the cities you mentioned. Location is everything. They may make more money in th north, but wages are not the same in the South. Of course, the answer might be, "everything is relevant." At least in Boston and NYC, you have mass transit - no need for cars. Since we only have CARTA which is great for some commuters, for others it is probably unrealistic. I would work downtown, but that would be almost a 50 mile round trip commute. With gas prices as they are, working downtown is out of the question, especially if it means dishing out more for parking the car, which eats away at income.
Posted by Early on May 27, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Where does the money for parking go?
There should be seasonal fees, not pertinent to the off season.
There should be a separate garage for downtown employees subsidized by the tourism tax.
Posted by algorelost on May 27, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You can park along the battery for free and there is no time limit. When I used to work at Starbucks I parked there and walked. Also how about the business owners helping and not passing this cost along to their employees?
Posted by native1 on May 27, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wah.
Take the bus.
Drive to free parking and ride the bike that is in your trunk.
Carpool.
I can think of several more.......
Posted by Tammie on May 27, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I work at MUSC and I park at the Hagood lot (FREE) but you have to get there early. The only reason I drive is because of going to school at night and dr's appts elsewhere. I wouldnt dare pay to park. I know once I start my classes online, I will do the park and ride. It was free for us but starting July 1st, it goes to $5 for 31 days BUT, even on days you don't work, you can go anywhere.
Posted by Reader on May 27, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is simple supply and demand; it is not, as SteveWynn wrote, "greed." Moreover, most of the parking spaces downtown are privately owned and do not, as Thomas1776 says, "belong to all of us." Regardless, even as to the public garages, the City and County do not just snap their fingers and have them appear - they cost money. There are only two options: (1) that price can be paid by the users or (2) by the general taxpayers. I would say the former is better.
One thing that the article did not mention in doing its math are monthly rates. At least at one time, the public garages had monthly passes. If those are still available and if anyone is paying the maximum daily rate every day, then those people need some financial help.
Posted by cnstreet on May 27, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I went back to college this year. I live on IOP and started taking the Mt. P Park & Ride express bus from the K-Mart parking lot (it starts at the Kohl's/Super Walmart parking lot.)
I used the bus years ago and I was shocked by the difference. This is an excellent option for Mt. Pleasant residents who work downtown.
It services enough parking lots to be convenient to all sections of Mount Pleasant, but not so many that it bogs down the time. It only increased my drive time by 10 minutes, but saved me the time to find a parking space.
They run frequently enough to be convenient with anyone's schedule. I would suggest this lady investigate this option.
Posted by RTC on May 27, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone remember the article the P&C did on parking garage workers' wages? I believe they were paying most about $12 an hour to sit in those booths.
Almost all of them read and talk on their cellphones, and then don't even have the common decency to put down the phone while they check people out.
Must be nice to get paid to sit on your butt and be rude.
Posted by Larz13 on May 27, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
RTC-
I think that the parking attendants are contractors and not city employees.
There is one attendant in the Cumberland garage that has like 3-inch fingernails.
Posted by JohnS on May 27, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They say the reason the fees are going up so much the parking workers are trying to contract union wages. A study showed the avg parking worker in NY/NJ made $28.75 an hour.
Posted by nappyd on May 27, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What about the businesses paying for employee parking or cutting deals on lower rates for employees at least?
Even in Atlanta and Charlotte, parking is cheaper than $20/day. Esp. with the option of showing up by 8 am and having it only be $5 for the day in some garages/lots. Bet that wasn't thought of, only to jack up the rates and basically tax downtown businesses/workers more with no explanation of why.
Posted by TinaR on May 27, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What about negotiating parking into your benefit as an employee. I know that when my sister worked downtown, she made $12 a hour and the owner of the business paid for a parking pass for her as well as her co-workers. Not to mention that if you go to some of the garages, you can buy a parking pass and save money that way.
Also, some garages have early bird specials if you are in the garage by a certain time, you save money even if you park all day!
I am tried of all the woe is me when there are easy solutions if you just look hard enough and ask questions.
Posted by seriouslyb4real on May 27, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wtf guys is this all you do all day is complain.
Posted by uniequnough on May 27, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I didn't read any complaints. I read a lot of suggestions. Is it necessary to post a comment to complain about complaining.
Posted by gcmadness on May 27, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Workers wages my butt! The garage I park at just raised it's fees, and laid off all the help because it's gone fully automated. It would be one thing if it were to go toward paying people, but they got robots instead.
Hey anybody out there interested in a carpool from Goose Creek to Downtown?
Posted by PantherFan on May 27, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am in the parking industry, and I have a few observations:
1) For a "small" city, Charleston has parking issues that one usually only encounters in larger cities. The bottom line is that we are situated on a packed peninsula, so there really are very few places to add parking garages. The limited supply increases the demand. It's a simple economic (and geographic) fact.
2) People who work downtown understand that paying for parking is a fact of life. Although it is often a hardship for these folks, it wasn't a surprise for them when they accepted their positions that they would have to pay for their parking.
3) Many of these employees are lucky enough to have their employers pick up the tab for their parking.
4) Metered spaces WOULD be available to these employees if the State of SC stopped allowing folks to park for free with a state-issued handicap placard. Since it has been established that the majority of people using handicap placards are doing so under false pretenses, eliminating the freebie would certainly open up many metered spaces.
Just my two cents' worth...
Posted by Early on May 27, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Off-shore parking is the answer. We could have a barge that departed at 8:00 and got back at 5:00. Cheep, environmentally friendly parking. Wow, I could be rich!!!
Posted by Thomas1776 on May 27, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Government is not suppose to operate for profit. And that is exactly what is going on here.
We must put an end to it once and for all.
Posted by Thomas1776 on May 27, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The county operates a garage that is right next to the School District Headquarters. None of the employees for the school district pay a dime to park in it. Same goes for the main library right across the street. No Charleston County Library employee pays to park.
Posted by meow on May 27, 2008 at 5:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Limited parking and no public transit system. Time to raise parking rates so Riley can build a memorial for the 9 guys he helped kill. But hey, their logo should be "we are still better than north charleston"
Just go get a handicapped tag like everyone else
Posted by chudbrocktune on May 27, 2008 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The city or county should offer a monthly parking pass at a discounted rate for employees who can provide a current pay stub showing they are employed downtown. That or run a carta type bus from a parking area outside of the congested downtown area to a couple designated spots downtown, on an ongoing basis throughout the day.
Posted by JourneyOn on May 27, 2008 at 7:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm all for improved CARTA routes. I looked it up. An hour an a half to take a 15-20 minute ride into town. How about some express routes straight into town? Like Rt 17 from Mt P and West A, Rt 61, Dorchester Road, Rivers Ave.
Posted by BillMan on May 27, 2008 at 8:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This does seem quite absurd! Why even work one of these jobs if 30% of your paycheck is going toward parking! The city needs to do something about this, maybe give employees a 50% reduction on parking and let the tourists pay those rates! This is an outrage!
Posted by MooMoo on May 27, 2008 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I abandoned downtown as a place I would go to regularly a long time ago because my time is too valuable to spend looking for a place to park. It costs too much, and I can get all I need and want in the 'burbs - including employment! Downtown is a great place to visit but I wouldn't want to live or work there!
Good suggestions to address the cost issue for those who have to commute there, though...