Ald. Dick Mell Doesn't Give A Damn About Your Dibs

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jan 23, 2009 3:30PM

A few weeks back, we discussed the Chicago tradition known as "dibs." It now seems that Ald. Dick Mell (33rd) has had it up to here with you kids and your dibs, issuing this email to constituents.

Dear 33rd Ward Residents:

Anyone one has the right to park in any open and otherwise unrestricted curbside parking place on Chicago's streets. No one has the right to reserve parking by placing any manner of impediment on the public way unless they are permitted by the City of Chicago to do so.

Since the 1930s, many vehicle owners in the nation's snow-prone cities of the North have dug out their cars, cleared the space and then placed some type of marker in it to discourage anyone from using the parking place they feel they have earned through the sweat of their brow. Woe be it unto anyone that removes the marker and parks his or her vehicle there! Documented damages to transgressing vehicles have run the gamut from scratched paint to slashed tires, broken headlights and smashed windshields.

For years, this practice, though clearly forbidden by existing Municipal Codes, has been tolerated for certain pragmatic reasons. Unless a police officer or authorized agent of the city actually observes someone placing markers in the parking spaces, a ticket cannot be issued. In addition, the Department of Streets and Sanitation does not have the manpower to remove all the impedimenta from the streets.

However, a disturbing trend has been observed regarding this practice. It has been reported to our office that many parking markers are being put out prior to snowfalls, during snowfalls of little consequence and remain out long after a particular snowfall has melted. Also, there are many more vehicles per dwelling unit than there were a decade ago and this alarming trend seems to be increasing. Parking spots are scarce enough without this unwarranted and burdensome imposition.

Therefore, I am asking every resident in the 33rd Ward to stop this practice. Try getting together with your neighbors to organize a shoveling party to clear the whole block's curbside parking. This will also help with the drainage when the snow and ice melts.

If you have any ideas to resolve this ongoing problem, please e-mail them to snowman@33rdward.org and I'll be sure to review them.

Sincerely yours,

Alderman Richard F. Mell

Blago's father-in-law has a point, though we still picture him on the lawn, shaking his cane at a group of teens and telling them to turn down that loud rock and roll music. If you live in the 33rd Ward and have seen any reaction to this, drop us a line at tips (at) chicagoist (dot) com.

Thanks for the tip, Emily!