NYC Parking Meters going Private?

Parking Meters New York City : Now here’s the bottom line, it seems as though the Bloomberg Administration (NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg) is looking to privatize the parking meters in New York City. This is a revenue generator that brings in about $150 plus million per year to the city, now with the expenses involved in servicing the meters etc it may seem like a bright idea but they should rethink their drink and learn from the mistakes of others.

Chicago made this move and who suffered the most, it wasn’t the city, NOPE it were the residents that needed to park, the people that saw the parking rates sky rocket once Chicago privatized. Now this is all new to New York and honestly New Yorkers need to see the big picture. Would a private company fair far better than NYC in managing the revenue generator, more than likely, however its all about the bottom line as a private company HAS to generate a profit. So that would more than likely mean higher parking rates, less revenue for the city and who knows a private company may bring in private towing.

Now is this just a loss of revenue or also a loss of city jobs? I guess these are questions that need to be posed to city hall, I’m just voicing my views on the situation, kinda looking behind the curtain of the great OZ to see what lurks between the lines.

New York privatizing the meter business that may not only include street meters it may include municipal parking garages and that opens up a whole other can of worms as happened in Chicagoland.

Even though in theory it may look good to shift the responsibility of meters, tolls and other public services to the private sector but where does it leave the people? At the mercy of private companies running their trains, buses, meters, bridges etc, the list goes on if its allowed to take place.

Taxes are paid for a reason, services are provided by municipalities for the benefit of the residents and of course its not free but its still for the people, those voters that put their trust in the administration in place that they would do whats in the city’s best interest, whats in the peoples best interest.

Look can such a plan be the greatest thing since sliced bread for New York City , I can’t say but what I can say is that the people, the city council, whomever has a say in this decision should look at all angles, play devils advocate as this will impact the residents of New York City in a big way for a long time.

Lets see where these chips may fall and hopefully its not on the heads of the taxpayers.


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