[dropcap size=big]I[/dropcap]nglewood—As SoFi Stadium gears up to hold their first preseason game of the year in August through the Rams vs. Chargers, Inglewood residents face a new city-wide parking permit initiative.
In the coming months, city parking enforcement will require permits for individuals looking to park their car in all 11 neighborhood streets within districts 1, 3, and 4 for more than two hours. District 2, covering areas north of Florence Avenue, will require permits and is currently under the pre-approval stage. Residents will be limited to two free permits per household, with additional permit passes costing $100 each.
The policy toward visitors is when things get tricky as residents will be given 12 one-day or four three-day permits for free quarterly. Individuals who want to have events like birthday parties or BBQs will be given a quarterly allowance of 25 one-day permits. Residents with children in college are going to pay $50 per year for a three-month permit. Housekeepers, babysitters, and nannies are going to be $50 more expensive for their semi-annual permits.
With the news of the new city-wide parking permit mandate making waves around the City of Champions, residents like Dobby Garden At Darby Park Garden Director Eva Peñuelas feel indifferent about the policy. “As a resident, it’s tricky because my neighbor has three families living with them, and they have a total of ten cars,” said Peñuelas, who lives in a District 2 home near Edward Vincent Park. “That’s a problem because when we want guests over, or we want to have a small BBQ, we don’t have any parking.”
However, Peñuelas is also aware of the realities many Inglewood residents face regarding multi-generational homes and housing crises brought on by rising rent. According to reports, many residents like her have alluded to the policy being more of a “poor tax” for renters that make up over 64 percent of the city.