Hey Chicago, If you haven't heard the news, Mayor Richard Dailey proposed Tuesday to create a long lease parking meter program for the City of Chicago. Right now, meter costs run us $0.25 an hour in Lincoln Square. His proposed program would increase the hourly rate to $1.00 an hour for meter parking! So what does that meanto you as the consumer? Ah, bring a roll of quarters or your other options would be take the bus, the "L", a cab, or walk to the local neighborhood or Loop shopping districts. What does it mean to the businesses in these areas? Well, I'm thinking people will head to the shopping malls instead of staying "local". Did anybody tell this to Mayor Dailey? So let's do the math:
It's a great way to balance the budget to have another private company to run the City of Chicago Meters Program. For how long? Ah, 75 years!
There are other ways to balance the City's budget. Maybe somebody else besides the three automaker executives should be driving to D.C. to look at all avenues. So far, the people are paying for all these increases. How many businesses will have to shut down because it will cost $1.00 for the first hour meter parking in 2009 and then in 2010, hey let's go up to $1.25 per hour and increase it to $2.00 an hour for meter parking by 2013.
Oh, the Loop area will be $3.50 an hour per meter in 2009. Where to we get all the quarters? The Bank? Tell me, they'll be charging us for the quarters as well.
But hey, we've already got one of the highest sales tax at 10.25 percent, in the country. Something has gotta give besides the small businesses, the consumers.
I agree with the Chicago Tribune's comment:
"It's a Pain in the Meter"
It's time to call your Alderman!
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