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City Calls Parking Meter Suit “Without Merit”
Produced by Alex Keefe on Wednesday, August 19, 2009
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Photo by Lauren. |
City lawyers are downplaying a lawsuit filed over Chicago's controversial parking meter lease.
848: Group Sues City Over Parking Privatization Deal
In a brief written statement, the city says the lawsuit over its $1.15 billion parking meter privatization is "wholly without merit."
Nonetheless, the statement says Chicago will "aggressively defend" the lease if the case ever goes to trial.
A public interest group filed the suit Wednesday, claiming—among other things—Chicago lacks the authority to lease public streets.
It also says it's unconstitutional for public officials to write parking tickets, now that the meters are controlled by a private company.
Representatives for two state agencies also named in the suit declined to comment.
Last winter, the city signed on to privatize its parking meters for 75 years, in exchange for some much-needed cash.
Critics say the deal is a short-term fix for a long-term budget problem.
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Malick Kane, Hyde Park // Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 10:44 AM
I really want to know the name of this organization so I can donate some money to them. Bravo! Somebody needs to do something about this tyrannical government’s legal/illegal pick pocketing of the citizen of Chicago. Let’s keep the noise about the parking meter alive. Let this be Mayor Daley’s snow storm.
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David Jenkins, Cicero // Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 2:14 PM
Hi Malick Kane,
The name of the organization is IVI-IPO:
http://www.iviipo.org/
And I was thinking exactly the same thing. Let's send these people some of our money for what they're doing.
BTW, excellent point about the public officials writing parking tickets for a private company. Oops. They didn't think they'd forever get away with that.
Cordially,
David
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Jack, Lakeview // Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 3:23 PM
As soon as I heard about this story it was clear to me that it will be the downfall of Daley. As much as I have supported him throughout his many terms, this is one step too far even for me. I hate to see him go, but it will dethrown him and this move is just wrong.
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Gary McKay, Gold Coast // Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 3:48 PM
How can any elected body obligate the city to a 75 year contract without a popular vote? Toddlers that are born today will have to live under this contract until they're dead!
These politicians are acting like royalty. Let's vote them out of office and show them it's not a lifelong job (Daley included).
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Paul, Albany Park // Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 4:30 PM
Chicago is a modern city with modern mass transit options. I work with many families who by need or choice use public transit for all their needs. If one really wants to protest the parking meter deal hang up the car keys and pull out the bus pass.
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Michael B, Far Northwest Side // Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 4:34 PM
This began with the Skyway lease to the Australian company... Daley thinks that he can pretty much sell off anything that was previously paid for by the taxpayers. I was thrilled when he had to abndon his sale of Midway Airport. Daley and his lackeys (the entire City Council) need to be tarred anf feathered and placed on public display. They act as if the city was their own private fiefdom and they can do whatever they please.
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Stellar, Beverly // Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 4:40 PM
When I first heard about this, I was sooo ANGRY with the Mayor and everyone involved. The truth is, I'm still upset about it, and the Mayor will never receive anymore support from me.
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Bill Levine, Evanston // Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 4:44 PM
Interesting suit... I don't know how this angle will play out, but I do know that this little maneuver of privatizing collection of a public fee was known as tax farming before the French Revolution, and it played no small part in eroding the legitimacy of the monarchy. Perhaps King Richard will want to reconsider.
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Harry, Lakeview // Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 5:24 PM
To what extent can a government sell/lease/lend public assets to a private company? That issue is at the level of 75 years and 1.5 billion dollars a novel one. The answer is rather unpredictable. No one has the ability to know what the value of a public asset is over a 75 year term.It doesn't seem like a government has the authority to outsource any governmental function for 75 years. It doesn't pass the smell test.
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Michael B, Far Northwest Side // Thursday, August 20, 2009 @ 6:40 PM
@Harry,
The Inspector General of Chicago already issued a report that the $1.5B price tag was WAY undervalued, but, of course, the Daley administration poo-pooed that report. Equally frustrating is the fact that the deal was literally rammed down the throats of the City Council, who weren't givn any time to examine the contracts. As soon as I saw thst Avis LaVelle, Daley's former press ecretary, was involved with the parking company it was pretty obvious that something smelled... but that would only be Chicago politics as usual, right?
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Steven, Edgewater Beach // Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 12:40 AM
I am surprised business owners aren't making more of a fuss. Between the sales tax and (let's call it what it is) the parking meter tax, I don't even consider shopping anywhere in Cook County, and especially in Chicago any more. In fact, just got back from another trip to Meijer in Indiana, where there is no sales tax on food, only 7% sales tax on general merchandise and gas is 45 cents per gallon cheaper (which alone pays for the trip). It's funny, I am beginning to wonder why I live in Chicago at all since I seem to be less able to enjoy it with every passing tax increase. The meters were Daley's tipping point; I won't vote for him again. Will an increase in the state income tax be the tipping point that sends me packing to Albuquerque, New Mexico?
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Laura, Chicago // Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 10:03 PM
On top of this leasing outrage, when trying to park, I have often either experienced a meter that does not take cash, or just takes money and does not register. I then need to move the car to another parking place. The incredibly expensive parking tickets that one is subject to is an argument for not shopping at all.
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Walt, Jefferson Park // Friday, August 21, 2009 @ 10:59 PM
If you factor in plans the City Council had discussed to raise parking rates on their own, the deal they made amounted to less than 30 cents on the dollar, over the 75 years, than what they could have raised on their own. The, fortunately, failed Midway Airport deal for 99 years was just as bad financially. The parking meter deal is just the latest example of the lack of will of both Mayor Daley and the City Council to make the tough decisions regarding services and taxes. Both the mayor and the council just wanted to grab the quick buck and hoped the public would forget their actions by the time election day rolls around. We all need to call, write and email our Alderman(woman) and demand no more multigenerational deals be signed and no deals to "lease" public assets ever be made without prior public meetings, in each ward, for citizen input.
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Mike, Evanston // Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 1:25 AM
Okay, so let's use Old Man Hwakins' barn and put on a show to raise money! Then, we buy back the lease for 2 billion, IVI-IPO makes a quick 500 million, and we break even after about 25 years!
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The Raging Scotsman, Oak Forest // Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 12:09 PM
The tyranny that is the Daley regime must be overthrown by the voters. Unless and until that happens nothing will change. The voters' ennui over the current political landscape is the major factor to overcome so that change can be effected. After all is said and done, Daley remains due to the Death of Outrage (btw, also the title of a great book by William J. Bennett about a U.S. President much like Daley). Down with King Richard!
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Robert, Humboldt Park // Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 3:58 PM
I agree that this SHOULD be the downfall of Daley. I plan on working for whoever opposes him. Just giving our city away.. 1 billion over 75 years?! Worst deal ever! I am going to go and checkout the group suing the city. I hope they are compelling enough to support.
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