It was done once before, but years ago. Alaska Junction merchants worked to have them removed and established free (but limited) parking behind many of the stores in the area.

So no paid parking? A few years ago there was a burst of attention as several banks and others who owned parking lots attached to their businesses hired private parking companies to manage their lots and charge people to park on evenings and weekends.

But generally, there was no paid parking in West Seattle. Rarely has parking been so bad in the Junction that you simply could not find a space. Those times were limited to evening when the bars and restaurants are hopping and during SummerFest and other special events. Then people got used to taking buses, shuttles or parking a few blocks away and walking to the events.

Now the specter of parking meters is hanging over the Junction and perhaps other areas. The City of Seattle, in what is called a quest to manage parking, seems intent to spread parking meters all over the city, well outside the downtown and Belltown areas.

We wish we could see this as a way to help local merchants do more business, but we see it more as a way to help the mayor and City Council keep the city budget flush. Why such a negative view? On the edge of one of the worst financial crisis since the early 1990s, the City Council blithely raised parking fees downtown and in some other areas. It was simply a way to help balance the city budget.

Did it help business? Perhaps it will downtown, where parking has always been a fright. Few casual visitors even try to park on downtown streets, but head to the many paid parking lots or garages.

There is virtually no free parking left in Ballard or the University District, and it is so bad there that it is a battle to find any kind of parking, never mind the cost.

The real war is in Fremont, where the city is ignoring business and even apparently lying about it. Fremont Chamber of Commerce executive director Jessica Vets let her frustration come out in a letter to the city recently.

"Over 2,000 people signed petitions, sent letters and generally conveyed their disapproval and discontent with installing paid parking in Fremont," Vets wrote, "Although much of this feedback has been sent to both Seattle Department of Transportation and City Council, the response from both has been underwhelming, at best. We received canned answers from City Council directing us to Seattle Department of Transportation and while Seattle Department of Transportation staffers have met with in earnest, it is apparent that they have limited authority to effect the changes we want to see in the proposed plan."

She went on to say responses were contradictory at meeting after meeting, noting that while city workers said no decision had been made, the fact was parking kiosks had already been purchased for Fremont and income was already figured into the city budget.

". . . why does the Seattle Department of Transportation continue to lie about this decision?"

We printed this information as an OpEd recently as a way to give warning to West Seattle Junction businesses.

Some, like long-time Junction businessman Jack Miller of Husky Deli says anything that frees up parking for short-term visitors to stores such as his would be a good thing, but he is not sure the best way is parking meters.

We are not necessarily against parking meters or the new development of parking kiosks, They may help, but we worry they will scare more people away from the Junction than will be drawn.

Our real worry is duplicitous actions by the city. Don't lie to us and do not tell us you are studying or still considering something if it is already an order from the mayor. Level with us - treat West Seattle better than Fremont officials and businesses were treated.

Be honest and save us a lot of scurrying and complaining if we simply have no choice but to do what City Hall orders for us.

However, we hope that our government will still hear its citizens before imposing its will.

- Jack Mayne

jmayne@robinsonnews.com