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San Franciscans resist park revenue plan

(UPI Photo Files)
(UPI Photo Files) | License Photo

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- San Franciscans are complaining about a city effort to alleviate its $12.4 million deficit by putting commercial operations in the city's public parks.

City officials had hoped to raise revenue by installing moneymaking ventures like coffee kiosks, skating rinks and open-air markets in San Francisco's parks and public plazas, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Thursday.

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Strong resistance has come from businesses unhappy with the possibility of having to compete with the city and from residents uneasy at the prospect of commercial enterprises in their public spaces, the newspaper said.

"In its fundamental form, we're talking about change, and there are always going to be some people who don't like it," Mark Buell, president of the Recreation and Park Commission, said. "The alternative, an erosion of services, is worse."

Buell acknowledged opponents' concerns but showed no sign of backing down from plans to turn the parks into potential moneymakers as the traditional tax-based funding stream continues to have a shortfall.

City Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi said he finds the prospect of commercial activity in the parks troubling.

"The cumulative effect of so much commercial activity in our parks fuels mistrust about pay-to-play practices and subtle privatization efforts," Mirkarimi said. "Despite Recreation and Park Department assertions, there is a serious lack of community dialogue about plans to reverse budget troubles, thus feeding resistance."

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