Emanuel's Changes To Parking Meter Deal 2 Votes Shy Of Passage

By Chuck Sudo in News on May 11, 2013 4:20PM

Remember what we wrote about how Mayor Rahm Emanuel enjoys a rubber-stamp City Council? Keep that in mind as aldermen continue their review of the mayor's negotiated changes to the parking meter deal.

The Sun-Times reports 24 aldermen support the changes to the deal, which include swapping free parking in neighborhoods on Sundays in exchange for an extra hour of metered parking on weeknights and three hours of metered parking downtown and in River North.

The aldermen already in Emanuel's pocket believe him when he says taxpayers will come out ahead over the remaining 71 years of the deal. Ald. Howard Brookins (21st), chair of the City Council Black Caucus, said:

“I don’t know what the usage is downtown during those particular periods [of extended hours]. Until I learn something else, I’m willing to give Rahm’s team the benefit of the doubt that the benefits outweigh those three hours. I’m not as skeptical as maybe some of the other aldermen. Maybe I should be. But, I’ve had a different relationship with Rahm and [Corporation Counsel] Steve Patton.”

City Council Budget Committee Chairman, Ald. Carrie Austin (34th), called the announcement of the support a "team effort" between the mayor's office and her committee geared to build more support for the changes to the deal. Emanuel only needs 26 votes to pass the changes and gave aldermen 30 days to review the changes, which he submitted as an ordinance at Wednesday's City Council meeting.

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) whose ward includes River North, said he's in favor of letting the original 2008 deal stay in place, especially since Chicago Parking Meters LLC stands to make even more money with the swap thanks to the extended metered hours on weeknights and convenience fees from the proposed "pay by cell" parking plan.