The DMV had legitimate reasons for wanting to close the lot: Officials have cited the number of cars parked at night that were left during business hours, trash, difficulties in getting the CHP to ticket the cars in the morning, and liability. However, neighborhood residents believe that had the DMV made an effort to work with the neighborhood, an acceptable compromise could have been reached. Instead, the DMV made the decision to close the lot without contacting the community, despite previous efforts by the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association to work with the DMV on this issue.

Regarding the issue of parked cars left during business hours, the DMV also did not do due diligence making its decision. One solution to make people more aware of the business hours would be to clearly post the DMV's business hours in large signs at the parking lot entrances (which would also benefit all DMV patrons, not just those wanting to park in the lot during off-hours), but local DMV officials either did not consider this option or decided it didn't want to make the effort.

Albertson's had to negotiate with the community and make commitments to address some of the neighborhood needs in order to get its permits.� Why would we not ask the same of an entity that is funded by taxpayer support, is located on public land, and has a real estate presence in the community?� The community absorbs the increased congestion and receives no reciprocal benefit of the DMV's presence. Another private business, Bank of America, has implicitly allowed the neighborhood to use its lot after hours as well in a show of goodwill toward the neighborhood, despite posted signs that forbid such parking. Recent talks with the neighborhood association regarding a proposed residential/commercial development at the current Bank of America site, which is next door to the DMV, included an agreement to allow neighborhood residents use the new development's parking outside of business hours.

Many residents have come to rely on the off-hours parking in a neighborhood desperately lacking street parking at night. To take that away without even making an effort to work with the community has left many feeling shortchanged.

We understand the difficulties the DMV faces in allowing off-hours parking, and we would be more than willing to support methods to clear the lot during business hours, such as aggressive ticketing or towing of cars left in the lot after a certain time, or working to publicize such a concern to the neighbors. Another possible solution would be to ticket or tow cars at more convenient times for the CHP and DMV and clearly posting that information so that residents are forewarned. We ask that the DMV work with the neighborhood in good faith toward a compromise.