City parking scheme schemes hurting our tourism

To the Sarasota city commissioners: The city’s parking scheme are seriously detrimental.

We are a tourist driven economy. My retail customers, my sales people and, most importantly, the tourists we interact with are very annoyed with the city’s parking procedures and, especially, its fees.

Tourists young and old are totally confused by the instructions for parking payments. My delivery trucks get fined; my sales people calling on my customers are turning in thousands of dollars per year in parking fees that just add to my company's expenses.

Also, let it be known that tourists are avoiding Sarasota and St. Armands Circle in favor of Lakewood Ranch, Waterside, Venice, North Port, Longboat Key and Wellen Park, which all are perceived to be more tourist friendly.

Sarasota is still reeling from COVID and the 2024 hurricanes. We also have received a tremendous amount of negative press up north and in Canada.

Please eliminate all parking fees and protocols. They an annoyance and a money grab that is hurting the city’s tourist industry.

— Col. John Saputo, CEO/Owner Gold Coast Eagle Distributing