Our analogy comparing the parking meter deal to herpes becomes even more apt. more ›

Jeremy Smith and Mark Lawrence decided to create SpotHero after they found major lots across the city operate at 85 percent capacity during peak parking hours, but at only 20 percent during evening hours, and feel their system can ease congestion and increase business revenue for parking lot owners. more ›

The Expired Meter estimates if those 72 pay boxes brought in $1.50 a week, the parking meter lease would be over before the meters made a return on their investment. more ›

• The Trib takes a look at the operation of regional airlines, and ponders whether their increased flights and lower pilot salaries are eroding safety standards.
• Feel good story of the week: a 5-year-old previously confined to a wheelchair after being shot in gang crossfire was able to switch to a walker to go on stage to receive his kindergarten diploma.
• Want to know what Cardinal George had for lunch or what Youtube video is making the nuns LOL? Check out the new Archdiocese of Chicago blog.

A couple of weeks after Chicago Reader's Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumke published a story estimating that the city was grossly underpaid in the parking meter privatization deal, City Inspector General David Hoffman has released his own report on the lease with LAZ Parking and he agrees -- he estimates that the city should have been paid over $2 billion dollars instead of the $1.15 billion it received. more ›

Will the clusterf*ck otherwise known as the transfer of the city's parking meters into private hands finally be the thing to spur the citizenry of Chicago to vote Mayor Daley out of office? Well, no, probably not, but we think many are waking up to what a mess privatizing Chicago's assets can be. more ›

If you've recently woken up in a panic realizing you parked on a snow route the night before and expected your car had been towed only to find out it was still there, you can thank the current Chicago budget shortfall for saving you a trip to the pound. Towing is running at half the pace compared to last year because the ones who get the tow trucks rolling -- the field vehicle investigators -- were cut back in last October's job cuts. It's actually pretty amazing towing hasn't been reduced further since only 4 of the previous group of 31 full-time investigators remain, and only 5 of 10 positions for seasonal snow tow work have been filled -- by some of the laid-off investigators. more ›

The Expired Meter speculates that it will be at least March if not April before all the meters are changed. Finally, one time that we don't mind municipal work happening slowly around here. Take your time, boys! more ›

Don't forget, as part of Mayor Daley's attempt to sell off every one of Chicago's assets to fix its budget "crisis", the city sold off its parking meters which resulted in the loss of all "parking meter holidays". So if you're parked at a metered spot today, you had better dip into the laundry money and pump quarters into that meter or you're going to start your new year with a parking ticket. more ›