General "Chappie" James

One of the things I love most about Pensacola is that our downtown has always been a place where people could gather. You meet friends for coffee, browse local shops, attend Gallery Night, enjoy a festival, or take a walk along the waterfront.

It should be easy.

A thriving downtown depends on people being able to stop in without thinking twice. Sometimes it's just grabbing a cup of coffee before work, picking up flowers for dinner, browsing a bookstore, or meeting friends for lunch. Those quick visits are the lifeblood of locally owned businesses. When parking becomes expensive or complicated, many people simply decide to go somewhere else.

Our downtown economy isn't built by parking meters. It's built by the shop owner who opens their doors every morning, the waitress serving lunch, the artist welcoming visitors into a gallery, and the family who decides to spend the afternoon exploring Pensacola. The easier we make it for people to visit, the more our businesses, restaurants, and cultural attractions thrive.

Today, too many visits begin with opening an app, feeding a meter, or worrying about a parking citation. Parking has gradually become another cost of enjoying downtown instead of a tool to encourage people to spend time there. I believe government should remove barriers, not create them.

That doesn't mean abandoning good parking management. Some areas like coffee shops, bakeries, and other quick-stop businesses, benefit from convenient 15-minute parking spaces. Other high-demand areas may need one- or two-hour time limits to keep spaces turning over throughout the day. 

The goal should be availability, not generating more revenue.

As Mayor, I will restore free downtown parking and eliminate parking fees at City-owned public boat launches because our public spaces should invite people in, not charge them for enjoying what they already own.