What’s Behind San Clemente’s Parking ‘Problem’?

Businesses in San Clemente have long thought they have a downtown parking problem, but according to a consultant firm, the problem might not be a shortage issue, as many have suspected. “If you think you have a parking problem, you’re right. If you think have a parking shortage, you may not be right,” said Mark Linsenmayer, from Walker Parking Consultants, which was paid $20,000 to conduct a parking study. So far, Linsenmayer has implied that the main problem could be under enforcement of rule breakers in the area, most specifically with drivers who violate time-restricted parking laws. San Clemente officials say the relatively low ticketing is probably due to the police department being understaffed.