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Seattle City Council counting on your parking tickets

BY Stephanie Klein  on October 29, 2012 @ 12:58 pm (Updated: 4:22 pm - 10/29/12 )

The mayor, often criticized for his love affair with any transportation mode that isn't a car, wants to make it easier to park downtown.

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn has voiced support for a phone-based system that would allow you to pay by inputting your license plate, credit card info, and time into a parking app. The app would then remind you to pay more if you're getting close to your maximum time.

Sounds easy?

Well, too easy, according to the Seattle City Council.

Danny Westneat reports in The Seattle Times that he attended a council meeting last week and noticed the majority of its members agreed this system would be a problem for their budget that relies on revenue from parking tickets.

"This is what turns reasonable people cynical about government's intentions. The idea should be to serve your customers, the customers being the voters," said KIRO Radio's Dave Ross.

Co-host Luke is applauding councilmembers Sally Bagshaw and Tom Rasmussen for saying that revenue based on punishment is no way to build a budget.

"I hope that there's some sort of public outcry over this," Luke said. "It bothers me deeply that the city council is working to make your life harder."

Luke notes he sounds a lot like another talk show host on KIRO Radio - Dori Monson.

"You're finally figuring out that I'm right, Burbank," Dori said. "Evil, controlling the city." Listen to Dori's full rant

Ross thinks the city would actually make more money anyway because a thousand people paying an extra dollar on their phones is more lucrative than catching 100 people and giving them tickets.

Whenever Luke beats the system with 15 minutes here and there, the city loses money.

"Do the right thing, Seattle," said Dave.

Stephanie Klein, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Stephanie joined the MyNorthwest.com team in February 2008. She has built the site into a two-time National Edward R. Murrow Award winner (Best Radio Website 2010, 2012).
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Comments (5)


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  • flipper wrote...
    Parking Wars
    October 29, 2012 2:05 pm
    Maybe that reality show can come to Seattle and follow the meter maids
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    That's our government
    October 29, 2012 6:19 pm
    I love how the Liberals are always claiming to be for the middle & lower class.... Hey Seattle City Council- do you really think you're helping anybody? You people are a bunch if chickenshit hypocrites!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cdbtx wrote...
    One of the wonderful things about living in America
    October 30, 2012 2:03 am
    is that we do have choices. We made a choice to no longer live or do business in Seattle.

    This is nothing more than an extension of previous Seattle social ideologies and policies.

    "Go East Young Man" - Hmmmm, maybe someone should write a book... about all the that...

    To quote Horace Greeley " Washington is not a place to live in. The rents are high, the food is bad, the dust is disgusting and the morals are deplorable. Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country".

    Substitue Seattle for Washington, and West for East... and you have a winning combination for success.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    True that
    October 31, 2012 12:02 pm
    I am spending more and more time at my other residence in Central Wa. As soon as my youngest graduates High School I am out of this beautiful, but completely ruined city.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • don over taxed wrote...
    You Two Ladies Are Next
    October 30, 2012 8:57 am
    We need another change in the morning hosts....you two libs are next
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }