You know something’s up when a heavy hitter like Carol Marin can’t get an answer from the city.
In this case, Marin is getting the silent treatment from Chicago’s Department of Revenue.
While I’m a little surprised, I’m not shocked by the DOR’s behavior.
In the recent past, even the lowly Parking Ticket Geek was able to get return phone calls and e-mails from DOR spokesperson Ed Walsh. But now, despite sometimes calling several times a week, despite waiting patiently by the phone, I never hear back. In fact, I haven’t received a call back or even an e-mail response in months now.
Don’t get me wrong, the Geek understands his place in the pecking order of Chicago “media.” With the TV stations, radio stations and daily newspapers at the top of the media hierarchy, The Expired Meter probably ranks somewhere below a high school student newspaper.
I get it.
But when Carol Marin, one of Chicago’s elite news reporters can’t get a solid answer out of the DOR, you know something is seriously wrong.
Marin’s column focuses on the DOR’s reluctance to answer some pretty straight forward questions about an apparent decline in parking ticket revenue. Marin tried to get Revenue Director Bea Reyna-Hickey on camera to answer questions and was rebuffed several times over.
Then, after refusing to comment on camera for the news story, the DOR posted a response to Marin on their website, challenging the facts of her and producer Don Moseley’s story that aired on NBC 5 on November 16th.
One would think if Reyna-Hickey had agreed to the interview, any alleged inaccuracies, would have been cleared up before the piece ran. It seems to me the DOR wants to have it both ways. They don’t want to talk to the media, but have a hissy fit if they feel the information is wrong.
Marin seems to think spokesperson Walsh, is just playing information gatekeeper on the direct orders of Reyna-Hickey, because she’s adverse to negative publicity.
But I think Marin is wrong.
I think it goes much further up the ladder than the Ms. Reyna-Hickey.
My guess it’s Mayor Daley, repeatedly and mercilessly stung by the fallout from the parking meter lease deal, who has firmly placed the gag over the mouth of the DOR.
To me, it seems this type of paranoia is counter productive. The DOR and the city would be much better served by speaking openly and honestly about all the issues, instead of turning out all the lights and pretending no one’s home.
I don’t know about other reporters in town, but when I see this type of behavior, I think you’re hiding something. And it pushes me to dig even deeper and work even harder to find out what the hell you’re trying to keep hidden from the public.
You can read Marin’s full Sun-Times column, “City won’t face up to parking meter Q&A,” right here.
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Your assessment is probably spot on.
One thing to consider is the possibility that fewer people are actually letting their meters/pay & display receipts expire. In the past, how often would one walk around and see blinking expired meters? Quite often. Now, walking around downtown, EVERYBODY (except those w/handicapped plates) has pay & display receipts. To add, the expiration time is stamped right on the receipt. With individual meters, it was easy to screw up when you bought “1:22″ (1 hour 22 minutes). Now, the receipts say “4:13pm”. It’s much easier to make a mental note–or set an alarm–when the time is spelled out for you…
As a result, the city is a victim of it’s own successes. The shortsightedness and ineptitude of our civic leaders is just baffling…
I’ll tell you exactly what’s up with this situation. I use the new system daily in addition to being out on the (Printer’s Row) streets several times during the course of any given day/night . . . and fewer motorists are using these meters. Period.
Additionally, I see fewer cars parked on any given block due to the lack of the old individual meters as a visual aids. The City should have been painting parking lines at the same time they were taking out the old meters. If the City does get around to this (line-painting) they’d be wise to take the occasion to assign some new motorcycle/scooter spaces.
My personal habits, regarding meter use, have also changed. Because I can now use a credit card, I’m more apt to overpay a little than risk a ticket for expired time. In my mind, I have less of a problem giving the privately-owned meters an extra buck every so often than shell-out $50 for a ticket considering how the City will just waste that revenue.
Another point I’d like to raise is that these new meters issue a receipt which someone like myself (a private contractor) can turn in as a business expense come tax time.
I think it is still the effect of the meter revolt that started almost a year ago. I personally have not put a cent into the meters since the privatization began – I make sure to park on side streets or wherever I can to avoid the meters.
Almost a year later I still see open spaces everywhere, including spaces in areas that wer impossible to find parking in the past.
I would be curious to see the booting statistics – after all, if less boot eligible cars on the streets, that’s lost revenue as well. I am guessing the beginning of overnight booting is somehow related to this…
I think there’s another issue here and it’s only a theory of mine: Chicago is just too expensive to live in and people are leaving.
I’ve nothing to back this up except convos I’ve had with local friends and business associates. Wages are flat, shops are closing and people are scaling back.
Thoughts?
Lance -
I think there is some truth to that. A lot of the expense comes from the city, plus being in Cook County doesn’t help.
I spend a LOT of time in the city, so I feel like a city resident, but I live in DuPage County. Gas alone is a good 15 – 20 cents cheaper a gallon by me, not to mention there is no city sticker for cars, and the most expensive ticket you will in my town is $20. Just eating at McDonalds can be a dollar more in the city than compared to here. You can still go into bars by me and get a $1.50 draft.
It’s just a lot less hassle as well when it comes to just about anything. I always get a laugh out of the motto “The city that works.”
Last December, I got towed wrongly. I had a hearing, and it was ruled in my favor. I was suppose to get my reimbursement in 5 weeks, but it took 6 MONTHS to get my money back.
I love the city, but with the expense, the hassle, and all the BS right now with Daley and Stroger, I am glad I don’t live in Chicago or Cook County.
I hope there is some sympathy to the poor city works that are held hostage by Daley’s requirement that we Have to Live inside the borders else we forfeit our jobs with no recourse.
I have a question about the LAZ stickers. Are the only good for a single location? For example, if I am making several quick stops can I just buy a 2 hour sticker and leave it in the window for multiple spots? What if I buy the sticker at a cheap box and park in an expensive space (I buy the ticket in, say the Northwest Side and park the last 20 minutes of so in near North)? What if I buy the sticker an expensive box and park in a cheap space. (I buy the ticket in, say, Near North and park the last 20 minutes on the Northwest Side?) I don’t see any specific “limitations” on where you use the stickers.
Sympathy? No, you don’t deserve “sympathy”. You elected to take a job that requires you to live in the City. That’s a reasonable requirement because, maybe, just maybe, you will then recognize the problems that come with living in the City. People with actual useful and constructive jobs – teachers, cops, fireman and the like. People who are, unlike the PEA’s, badly underpaid for the useful jobs that they perform. The City should not be spending tax payer money to enforce a “private” right — the parking meters.
They can not pay you enough to write tickets(PEA,Serco). Why?
-You can be assaulted at any time.
-You can be shot at any time.
-You can be run over at any time.
Unfortunately, this job does not offer any protection.
Ticket writers have been around for a long time for a revenue stream so they will continue to be out there no matter if its private or how much they get paid.
DoR,
As you said to me some time ago, you signed on to live in this city. You don’t like it? Leave.
Ironic how hard nosed you are, and then you turn around and ask for our pity. Ironic, and pathetic.
Well, it looks like I need say nothing at this juncture…
Johnny.
You owe me a new keyboard for my desktop…I just snorted my Diet Coke on it when I read your comment.