Waterloo city councillors getting bad advice on parking

Re: Waterloo considers reducing parking to get people out of cars — Aug. 28

I would recommend that each Waterloo city councillor adopt a child. Clearly, they have a deep-seated need to be parents as evidenced by Monday’s discussion about measures to reduce parking for new developments. More automobiles are being driven because more people want to drive. Reducing parking spaces will only send more people who want to drive to the Boardwalk and other regional shopping facilities.

Unfortunately, our city and regional governments have bought in to bad economic forecasting which studied millennial spending habits and made incorrect assumptions. Millennials did not spend money the way their parents and grandparents did for one simple reason — they stayed home an extra eight to 10 years. Their parents did not force them out the way the boomers’ parents did, so they stayed at home and drove mom and dad’s car.

All politicians should forget the bad economic forecasts and make their downtowns more attractive for people to come to and park their cars. If climate change is your issue, put more charging stations in the premier spots but stop trying to be our parents and change our desire to be free to come and go when we want and buy the items that will not fit on the bus for the twice-as-long journey home.

If you want to parent, there are many children who need help. Governing should be about enabling your constituents to thrive and prosper, not restricting freedom.

Dennis Yanke

Kitchener