Bloomberg Says Parking Rates Would Always Be Set By City

Flickr user Polish Sausage Queen

Yesterday it was reported that the city's is mulling a plan to lease the rights to 50,000 parking meters to a private company. Which we noted didn't work out so well for Chicago. However, Bloomberg reiterated that the Windy City's woes could never happen here, because the city would be in charge of setting the prices. Phew, for a second we were worried about getting gouged.

Bloomberg said, "We're not going to turn over the rights to set parking rates or collect the fines. But installing or maintaining equipment, there's nothing magical about that." He also said the city is trying to hire an economic adviser, and would never sell off its infrastructure. We're not going to sell assets in return for money we'd spend on balancing the budget," he said. "That's terrible." Oh that's right, Bloomberg only cuts assets to balance the budget.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on February 26, 2011 2:02 PM

Comments [rss]

cmdrogogov

Cross-reference with WTC city offices story, then check up on citytime, atlantic yards etc.

This is the same trick.

The city will be deprived a stream of revenue, the private company will make a packet and the public will have their shirts taken off their backs. Again.

TheOtherBob

As a former Chicago resident, please let me tell you that if there's a way for the city government to make a killing out of this while selling the citizens down river to be ass-raped by a greedy company...they totally will. I don't drive anymore, so I don't really care all THAT much about drivers being fucked over...but, still. If you give a parking company a private monopoly over a public thing like parking meters, they WILL find some way to make the people of New York their bitch -- particularly if the deal cannot be easily revoked. Maybe it will be high prices, maybe it will be shit service, or maybe they'll come up with some new form of fuckery unknown since the Ming Dynasty...but they'll find a way.

If we're going to do this, it's gotta be short-term, tightly-controlled, and revocable at will. And I can just about guarantee it will be none of those things.

WetButt

The muni meters are garbage, you would think they use dial up modems given how long it takes to get your parking ticket. If a private business can improve that system for a cut I say its a good thing

handsomedevil

So why can't the city manage a bunch of parking meters? Sounds pretty easy to me. I can't see what a for-profit company would do that a competent administration can't.

Bernie_Geotz_Squirrel_Luv

Especially since many places replaced their meters with muni meters.
If it's working why mess with it? Oh because bloombag want's to privatize everything.

Mordicai

I am opposed to free parking, but appreciate that cars lining the street provide protection to pedestrians-- metered parking seems like the right idea.