23 May 2003

The Honorable John Burton
President Pro Tem
California State Senate
455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 14800
San Francisco, CA 94102

Dear Senator Burton,

I have received a copy of the letter sent to you from Steven Gourley, Director if the Department of Motor Vehicles. He acknowledges the closure of the DMV parking lot on Fell Street in San Francisco and outlines the requirement for neighborhood groups to have access to after hours parking.

The requirements are not feasible for neighbors to fulfill. Groups, such as neighborhood churches, have the potential to meet the requirements.

The DMV Director does not acknowledge that the presence of such an institution in a residential neighborhood creates tensions. Neighbors have to absorb increased traffic and noise from the DMV's business. We see the graffiti on the building, signs and barriers. We have increased demand for street parking from its customers when the lot is filled to capacity.

It would be socially responsible for the institution to return something to the community beyond a barricaded parking lot. The DMV may have important and legitimate issues but it is a part of a neighborhood by its very presence. It is arrogant to have closed its resource to the neighbors who have to confront what it demands of the area.

As a twenty nine year resident on Fell Street I feel that the institution has disregarded what it owes the community. To demonstrate its further disrespect for neighbors, the DMV has engaged a service that cleans the lot between 8:30 and 10 in the evening creating a loud droning noise that interferes with relaxing activities one chooses at the end of the day.

The neighbors that have been working on this issue of parking cannot meet the criteria outlined in the letter but felt it was important to convey dissatisfaction with the hollow offer contained in the letter.

We ask for your support in revising this decision.

Sincerely,

Ramona Davies
1336 Fell Street
San Francisco, CA 94117