Chicago “Letters to the Editor” Decry Parking Meter Sale

The backlash from Chicago residents against the privatization of the Chicago parking meters and lots continues.

In the June 21, Sunday, Chicago Tribune, a parking poll by Tribune reporter Mark Caro (conducted online) had the following results. In response to the question, “Are you spending less time at entertainment venues because of the cost of parking?” 91.4% of readers said yes and only 8.6% said no.

Then came the irate letters from actual Chicago residents.

Vicki Quade, who creates and produces the “Late Nite Catechism” and other “nun” comedies at the Royal George Theatre wrote as follows: “My shows run about 1 hour and 45 minutes, with intermission.  That means that the patrons must run out at intermission to feed the meters along Halsted or Clybourn.  An additional problem is that my actresses also have to run out and feed the meters!  And they’re dressed in a full nun’s habit.  Yes, patrons are affected, and we need those patrons to keep the business of entertainment in Chicago alive.  But I also am concerned about the performers, the stage managers, the ushers, the box office staff…the people who bring you that entertainment and don’t often have the kind of funds to valet their cars six, seven, eight times a week or pay outrageous parking rates in the private garage complexes.”

Another Chicago resident, Brian Suste wrote:  “If we cannot find the restaurant in the suburbs, we go to the city, valet, and leave town immediately.  No more leisurely shopping on Michigan Avenue or walking from the Loop to North Michigan Avenue for us.  Between the cost of parking and the exorbitant tax rate, we are shopping in the suburbs.  It is sad, because we love Chicago.”

Nancy Krauss of Rockford wrote, “We love Chicago and have family in the suburbs and for people like us public transit is not an option.  We drive in for events as often as our budget allows, and with the parking costs skyrocketing, the number of visits will be fewer.  We have tickets to take a grandchild to ‘Mary Poppins,” but are debating our traditional visit to Taste of Chicago.  Please continue to hold the mayor’s feet to the fire on this issue.  We can’t even vote against him!”

Said Robert Hirsch, a Lyric Opera fan, “Mayor Richard Daley’s terrible decision and LAZ Parking’s ridiculous rates and 24-hour meter schedule are going to greatly hurt Lyric Opera and the downtown restaurants.  The great ‘Live from the Met’ operas for $20 with free mal parking will take away thousands of Lyric subscribers.  All Chicago restaurants and theaters will suffer.”

Linda Catalano put it this way:  “I definitely make many of my entertainment decisions based on parking costs and options.  I avoid Chicago movies if I can help it—it’s just too easy to park in the suburbs for free.  I could easily take the CTA but don’t feel it’s safe in the evening.  Easy for the mayor to say take the CTA, but he’s got a chauffeur, and I think he’s out of touch with reality.”
To get in touch with the reality of the outrage of Chicago residents over both the latest parking fiasco (reported on in a previous article, which was rejected by AC after I researched it until 4 a.m., because I’m too old to know how to “work” the hyper-links well enough), you can read all these and more on page 5 of the Father’s Day issue (June 21) of the Chicago Tribune, by Mark Caro, Tribune reporter.