Apr 22, 2009 10:51 pm US/Central
Aldermen Blast Parking Meter Lease Deal
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
You're not alone if you're frustrated over Chicago's parking situation. Several aldermen now want a second look into the plan that is costing Chicago more than quarters.
It's hard to label a
billion dollar deal penny-wise and pound-foolish. But at least one alderman did; claiming the city had traded $4 billion in long-term proceeds for a $1 billion quick fix. To say nothing of the comedy of errors, which now has the entire Council feeling the heat.
In City Council Wednesday, there were three separate resolutions signed by dozens of aldermen, blasting the billion dollar deal overwhelmingly approved just before Christmas.
"We want to know what's going on," said Ald. Leslie Hairston.
Ald. Hairston sponsored one of those resolutions after sensing the
outrage of her constituents.
"It's just ridiculous," said Chicagoan Kim Take. "Half of them don't work, and you still get a ticket. The ones that do work, you gotta put a quarter in there for 15 minutes. That's crazy."
No part of the city is immune. In South Shore, Ald. Hairston's ward, people are staying away from meters in droves. And they're not the only ones who are angry. Business owners are as well.
People like Lou Byrd, who's been cutting hair on 71st street since 1963; who has just seen the meter rates in front of his shop quadrupled.
Byrd says he's not happy.
"No, I'm not. Not really, because business don't come, people don't stay long or they can't go in the shop and get their hair done," Byrd said.
Ald. Brendan Reilly is one of those who had a change of heart after choosing the meter lease over tax hikes.
"It's the latest nickel and dime approach to balancing our city budget, and I think people have had enough of that," Ald. Reilly said. "My preference would have been not to have voted for it. However, it takes 26 votes to pass a budget, and I didn't have enough votes to find another way."
Homemade meter covers that say, "Parking Jail" and "Daley's Cash Box" are some of
Chicagoans' creative ways to protest. CBS 2 found them on the website
theexpiredmeter.com.
Empty spaces are another, drivers voting with their feet, on the gas pedal, driving right past the high-priced meters.
Ald. Hairston is one of only five aldermen who voted against the meter deal back in December.
"Vindication would be people getting their money back, people not being deceived by the parking company," Ald. Hairston said. "Nobody benefits from something this bad."
Hairston also charges the deal lacks the required women and minority business component, and claims we're being cheated by meters where the first quarter gets you only seven minutes instead of eight.
Ald. Reilly is demanding pay stations which take credit cards before any future rate hikes.
The uprising which began in scattered neighborhoods has clearly spread throughout the city and now to City Hall.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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