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Blame it on the rain? Those new parking meter boxes that are all the rage downtown have now decided to stop working. Many of the boxes, including several near City Hall, ceased working today, forcing the police to declare a moratorium on parking tickets, according to the Chicago Tribune. City Budget Department spokesman Pete Scales told the Trib that the problem was affecting 125 of the 556 pay boxes: "They are telling us all the repairs will be made by the afternoon."
Juan Salazar of Chicago forked over $3.50 in quarters on the 300 block of West Randolph Street at about 9:10 a.m. before going to the Daley Center to address a porch violation ticket."I put money in, but it didn't give me a receipt," Salazar said. "Another lady called them but didn't get an answer."
Salazar then went to other boxes on nearby blocks to see if he could get a receipt, but he couldn't find a working box.
Like many who parked in the Loop today, he placed a note on his dash stating that the meter system wasn't working.
Another customer told the Trib she called the operator number listed on the box and was told she could park there for up to two hours for free due to the ongoing problems. Under the city's current billion dollar privatization agreement, these boxes would replace the old school single meters by 2011.
I, for one, welcome our new malfunctioning pay box overlords
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City Budget Department spokesman Pete Scales told the Trib that the problem was affecting 125 of the city's 556 pay boxes:
The CITY'S payboxes? I thought these things now belonged to someone else? Let them worry about it. Caveat emptor.
That was my mistake, a typo I didn't remedy. But, you do have a point - the city is still having to deal with the fall out. But, no, the private company is responsible for fixing them.
I wasn't trying to point it out as a mistake on your part. I just thought that the city sold them off so the problems are LAZ's
Heh, well, even so, it was a mistake on my part.
That said, you're right. It's amazing. I'm guessing MayDay was swearing so bad the paint was peeling off the walls in City Hall.
Flickr tags say that parking meter is in -gasp- Manhattan!
you're right. but until we can get a shot of one from here...plus, from the one i saw this weekend, they're really really similar.
A few months ago when we parked on Taylor St. by all those Italian places, there were two of those boxes out of order across the street from each other. I had to walk a block to the nearest functioning box and then another block back to the car to put the receipt in the window. Yay for progress! Not that walking two blocks was difficult, but come on... who are these things supposed to be benefiting?
Wow people like to complain. Welcome to the new century where the rest of the world is. I am just happy to have a street not lined with meters.
Yeah,
Why should we complain about the city selling off public assets to private companies for a fraction of their worth only to have said private company do a worse job than even the city of Chicago at maintaining them? Complainers!
First time poster zeddy = city hall goon or LAZ parking employee.
Uhm, neither. I live in Europe but used to live in Chicago.
Then perhaps you should educate yourself about why people are complaining instead of bitching about the complaints. Hint: It's not about the introduction of new technology, but rather the mis-management of that technology and the city's parking system in general.
Right well, some things never change. Oh...look and Daley is still mayor!
Yes, because as we all know there is no such thing as traffic congestion and parking problems in European capitals like London, Rome, Paris, etc., and no one ever complains about too many cars. Just as long as my street remains esthetically beautiful and sans parking meters (or is it metres?). Vive la difference!
Since the private company gets to charge the city when paid parking spots are taken out of service during street repairs or other activities can the city charge the private company for lost revenue when the private system fails?
What are the odds that Chicagoist mentions Pete Scales and Bobby Scales on the same day?