Priviledged Parking Causes Outcry Over NYC Congestion Charge
New York City’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg is coming under fire lately. His plan to charge an $8 congestion charge for the city’s traffic has not gone over lightly. In fact, people are outraged.
Now, parking scandal is fueling the fire. It seems that the city has issued 142,000 free parking passes to its employees – 500 of which belong to the Mayor’s office.
The congestion charge was proposed to fight the city’s traffic and emissions, but for who? Environmentalists and congestion charge fighters are furious. They claim the free parking passes encourage the city employees to drive everywhere instead of utilizing the public transit systems the Mayor urges everyone to use. So, who’s the traffic being cut down for? The city’s employees?
The Mayor has since said that they will be reducing the number of free parking passes. But, do you think he’ll still have one?
+ Wired: Privileged Parking Provokes an Outcry in New York. Watch It Spread
Comments
Steve
I've heard that the Mayor frequently takes the subway to work... And I'd heard that even before this whole thing blew up.
Clint
If you are physically able to walk the distances and stairs required to take the NYC subway, and stand for long periods of time, the NYC subway is probably the most efficient way to get around the city.
On the flipside, aside from police, medical, and fire services, what city employee's business requires them to have a free parking pass? Stock brokers, Broadway musicians, restaurant owners, and shopkeepers contribute just as much to the New York economy and quality of life than someone from the Mayor's office. No one is going to hand out free passes to these people.
FLASHPOINT
Favoritism in NYC?? I'm shocked to hear of such a thing!
Brock
Some of the animals on the farm are more equal than others.
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