%#!@* Parking !

….. All of us have been bitten by the nasty parking monster, in one way or another!

 

pkgmaid

…. And once you’ve gotten a few of those painful $33 parking tickets, and if you’re like me, you learn to follow the rules!

…… So when I was downtown for a ribbon cutting for a preserved historic house a few months back, I looked for one of those safe city multi space parking meters nearby the event.

 

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There it was, so being in a rush as usual, I hurried into a spot and cozied up to the gulping money machine. I threw 3 singles in and pushed the little green button as I had done so many times before.

Nothing happened …. I looked closer   ….  A little message said something like this ” well we know you just put in $3 dollars, but we’re requiring you pay $15 at this meter, and we won’t give you back your $3 if you decide to cancel and not feed me another $12, so  nanny nanny boo boo !

%#!@*

Yup, that’s how I felt alright! ….. and I wasn’t giving this lousy beast another red cent   ….. I drove another block away and found a more friendly meter ….  I gave this one another $3 ( of my hard earned money) and hustled to the event …

shippeyrib

 

….. I mentioned to Mayor Jack Seiler how I had just been had, and by our own City none the less!   …..  But as it turned out, the lot was an imposter!  … Though it looked just like other City lots, it was a private concern….

….. It took a couple of months, but after a chat with the parking company ( and their subsequent chat with the City Manager), and the Mayor weighing in,  the parking company agreed that their parking upcharges weren’t very clear, not quite right   …

 

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…… So not only did ASTA Parking do the right thing and put up a new clearer sign  ….. but they also dug deep and donated $250 to historic preservation  ….

smiley  …..  a good ending