Re “Divided San Diego council reluctantly OKs plan for paid parking passes in Balboa Park” (Nov. 18): It is ironic that the same day the City Council approved these fees — which would cost me $300 a year since I don’t live in San Diego — I received an application to join the San Diego Zoo. I responded by stating that I would love to join again, but I can’t afford the parking. I wonder how many more potential members the zoo will lose because of the exorbitant parking fees.
— Frank V. Puglia, El Cajon
I have a proposal to help Mayor Gloria and Councilmember Elo-Rivera close the city’s budget deficit: An Oxygen Consumption Fee (OCF) can be assessed to all nonresidents enjoying the amenities San Diegans pay for. After all, we pay higher gas taxes and prices at the pump to ensure people coming to our fair state and city will have clean air to breathe. Visitors should pay their fair share of this cost. Of course, physiologists with expertise in human oxygen consumption would provide a database for assessing the fee.
Sound preposterous? Actually, not any more so than charging bogus fees for the amenities we have already paid for.
— Larry Lay, Santee