Parking fee upsets popular downtown restaurant

A prominent Mexican restaurant downtown is seeing red over a new payment before you park.

El Charro customers used to be able to park in the lot across from the restaurant for free, but soon they'll be charged $5 for parking there after 6 p.m.

The owner of El Charro, Ramon Flores says," I think we need to be given some leniency on this fee; we're fine with parking during the day but why do we have to charge people at night.

With no other businesses open after 5 p.m., he feels singled out.

Ramon says, "Down here it's pretty much residential and law offices and accounting offices and architects, so El Charro downtown definitely is the only business open after 5 p.m."

The Industrial Development Authority of Tucson owns the parking lot and the President of the Board Marilyn Robinson says, "I certainly understand Ray's frustration. The parking lot across the street from El Charro and having that change happen at a time when the economy is tough. We have tried very hard to explain to them our rationale for running the parking lots in the way that we are and we certainly aren't targeting anyone in particular."

The rationale is not enough to convince Flores. He adds, "What really matters is my customers are going to have to pay more money."

A night downtown now means paying for more than just dinner.