.Oakland Rolls Back Meter Hours

The Oakland City Council voted 6-1 last night to rollback parking meter hours from 8 p.m. to 6 p.m. The council’s vote came after months of outrage from local retailers who said that the council’s decision in June to extend meter hours to eight o’clock, raise parking rates, and increase parking ticket prices had hurt their businesses. The council had made the changes to help balance the city’s massive budget deficit, and didn’t expect they would create such a strong backlash.