(This article originally appeared in Voice of San Diego.)

Parking costs money.

But the price tag isn’t relegated to the moment you enter a garage or feed a meter. When a developer provides parking space for a condo building or retail space, those prices are manifested in the form of higher rents, steeper prices and lower wages.

SAN DIEGO -- A community fundraising effort is in full swing to make the LGBT historical monument planned for the base of the Hillcrest Pride Flag a reality.

The effort is aimed at making sure that any community member who wishes to "leave their mark" on the park is able to do so with donation levels starting at $100.

DALLAS -- The Boy Scouts of America made history today by approving a resolution that will allow gay youth to participate, by 61% of the vote.

The new membership standards, which state that "no youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone," will take effect on Jan. 1, 2014. The Boy Scouts' ban on gay adults will remain intact, however.

SAN DIEGO – City Council President Todd Gloria today commented about the Mayor’s proposed changes to the Plaza de Panama area of Balboa Park.

“I have consistently favored the removal of cars from Balboa Park’s Plaza de Panama. Because Mayor Filner’s proposal partially accomplishes that vision and because the project would implement a temporary change, I believe I can support the requested $300,000 appropriation during the budget process,” Gloria said.