Santa Clara could soon join the ranks of Silicon Valley cities that charge shoppers and diners visiting downtown for parking. But the proposal, which is still in its infancy, is already creating concern for small business owners who worry it will threaten their livelihoods.

City leaders have been mulling whether to charge for parking for several years now as a way to create an additional revenue stream for Santa Clara’s strained coffers. Last April, the City Council said it planned to implement paid parking in two areas: the Santa Clara Convention Center and Franklin Square.

Located just blocks away from Santa Clara University, Franklin Square is what’s left of the city’s downtown after it was razed to the ground in the 1960s in a failed attempt at urban renewal. It’s now more akin to a

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