Opponents of meters say authorities should focus on better planning and stop allowing restaurants, bars and office buildings that don't provide parking.
"The main problem is not the franeleros but all the businesses that have opened up and have no parking," said Antonia Romero, 67, who has lived by Parque Mexico for 35 years. "We used to have parking lots, but they have been replaced them with apartment buildings."
Luis Hernandez used to earn a living by selling candy and potato chips at a street stand near Condesa, but he said officials closed it down because he didn't have a permit. So he began working as a franelero along Parque Mexico.
"The government will leave a lot of people without anything to eat," said Hernandez, 31. "I'm really mad about all of this because all we want to do is work."
He said that if parking meters are installed in Condesa, he will work running errands for people.
"What else could I do?" he said.
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