Charleston, S.C. (WCIV) — Charleston City Council members were met by a dozen protesters over increasing parking meter fees on Tuesday night. The council met with the public to hear their opinions on the increase.
The price of parking downtown is set to take effect later this month, which would double meter fees from $1 to $1 per hour. Enforcement would be from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Most of the protesters were from the food and beverage industry downtown.
Jeremy Clouse, who works in the food and beverage industry downtown, said with carpooling, he currently pays $60 per month in parking. With the changes, that cost would increase to $320.
"It would just break us in a lot of ways," he said.
Thousands of people have signed a petition on Change.org calling for Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg to not change the prices.
REALATED | Downtown Charleston Parking Meter Fees To Increase This Month