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One big city paying a company to make money off its parking meters

GasBuddy Blog -- Can you imagine the day where a city decides to give its parking meters to an outside for-profit company? Well one U.S. city did that, and not only are the motorists there paying huge increases in parking rates, but the city itself will likely end up paying the entire amount that was given to them for the meters back to the company now operating and profiting off them.

That's right- more corruption in the Windy City, and you can be sure that as governments sell off their assets this could happen more and more! The Windy City already sold a toll-road bridge to a private entity and guess what happened to the toll rate? It jumped. It's now nearly double what it was just years ago.

So imagine this- Chicago sold its parking...

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Submitted May 08, 2012 By: PD

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rodzilla123 Champion Author San Diego Posts:4,400 Points:1,034,365 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:32:31 AM Ignore rodzilla123 Report Abuse Next to Washington DC, Chicago and the Chicago Politics have to be the Most Corrupt in America.
dchiou Champion Author San Jose Posts:2,821 Points:792,990 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:31:52 AM Ignore dchiou Report Abuse crazy
JENNYHK Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,641 Points:713,545 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:31:21 AM Ignore JENNYHK Report Abuse And they keep saying the crook Daley is a great man. Home of obummer politics.
SpankyMI Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:2,713 Points:760,255 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:30:34 AM Ignore SpankyMI Report Abuse Look at who is running Chicago. No surprises here.
clermont40miles Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:10,576 Points:1,772,940 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:27:29 AM Ignore clermont40miles Report Abuse Day 2 for this article. CHI corrupt? Yes.
regasaz Champion Author Phoenix Posts:5,775 Points:1,281,630 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:27:17 AM Ignore regasaz Report Abuse This is Chicago....... look for the kick-backs, follow the money.
LoneGuy Champion Author Lansing Posts:8,480 Points:2,317,995 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:27:00 AM Ignore LoneGuy Report Abuse Our government organizations are not necessarily responsible.
briandbec Champion Author Tucson Posts:4,243 Points:500,245 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:26:29 AM Ignore briandbec Report Abuse Sad thing is this: In Chi-town, politicians can make blatently ignorant choices like this that cost taxpayers billions of dollars, but as long as they run as a Dem, they will be assured re-election.
Skipper52 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:7,413 Points:1,592,710 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:26:11 AM Ignore Skipper52 Report Abuse Sounds like Chicago politics..
DeeLA Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,818 Points:1,365,330 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:25:00 AM Ignore DeeLA Report Abuse Private enterprise always charges as much as the traffic will bear.
patward99 Sophomore Author Pennsylvania Posts:166 Points:601,820 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:24:50 AM Ignore patward99 Report Abuse Another example of just how bad "our" government is. It is not enough to throw these bums out, WE have to occupy these offices. A government will never be FOR the people if it is not made up OF the people. Career politics must go!
Clarktj Sophomore Author Kentucky Posts:201 Points:11,700 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:20:19 AM Ignore Clarktj Report Abuse ok
ned23 Champion Author Columbus Posts:3,116 Points:292,040 Joined:Dec 2003	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:19:56 AM Ignore ned23 Report Abuse They sell it because city parking meter employees get pensions and the private employees don't. They don't want to pay the pensions. They want all the old people to be poor.
eye-spy Champion Author Quebec Posts:4,588 Points:2,417,845 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:19:56 AM Ignore eye-spy Report Abuse Yesterdays post.
mh44s Champion Author Madison Posts:4,389 Points:1,689,965 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:19:46 AM Ignore mh44s Report Abuse The taxpayers pay for all their mistakes.
Jamer Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:8,759 Points:1,636,260 Joined:Jul 2002	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:19:09 AM Ignore Jamer Report Abuse Taxpayers hard earned money being wasted by our elected out of touch officials again.
ned23 Champion Author Columbus Posts:3,116 Points:292,040 Joined:Dec 2003	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:18:42 AM Ignore ned23 Report Abuse Indiana sold their turnpike and the tolls tripled, and the maintenance got worse!
DblChek Champion Author San Antonio Posts:2,345 Points:615,245 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:18:31 AM Ignore DblChek Report Abuse Unfortunately, politicians are like lawyers; even those with the very best of honorable intentions (if they become successful) are eventually corrupted. The system is so corrupt that the good ones either turn bad or leave the government in order to preserve their values. (Maybe that’s why we seldom hear about the good ones.)
roadrunnin Champion Author Richmond Posts:1,754 Points:565,135 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:17:36 AM Ignore roadrunnin Report Abuse What a shock, people agreeing to a contract with out reading it. Taxpayer dollars hard at work.
tarheelcoastie Champion Author Greensboro Posts:5,196 Points:1,111,155 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:17:05 AM Ignore tarheelcoastie Report Abuse Someone, most likely a politician, got richer and is getting richer. Same thing with the stop light cameras!
joeborge Champion Author Ventura Posts:2,536 Points:905,555 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:16:52 AM Ignore joeborge Report Abuse ok
tree_shakker Veteran Author Ontario Posts:427 Points:187,480 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:16:43 AM Ignore tree_shakker Report Abuse ok
GoBlazers Champion Author Washington Posts:7,317 Points:874,225 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:16:42 AM Ignore GoBlazers Report Abuse Why is this still here?
5Golfer8 Champion Author Tucson Posts:2,143 Points:301,625 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:15:55 AM Ignore 5Golfer8 Report Abuse Parking meters? Whats next meters to restrict how much air you breathe?
cjg Rookie Author Virginia Posts:1 Points:6,395 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:14:19 AM Ignore cjg Report Abuse Good 'ole Chicago politics.
bart_reed Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,974 Points:786,505 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:13:46 AM Ignore bart_reed Report Abuse This is a huge loss to tax revenues to the City of Chicago. Bad idea.
NorthglennBill Champion Author Denver Posts:7,427 Points:1,472,920 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:12:56 AM Ignore NorthglennBill Report Abuse No parking meters in my city and I don't go where there are some.
bbthegun Champion Author San Diego Posts:5,983 Points:1,681,190 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:11:54 AM Ignore bbthegun Report Abuse This is a telling story about how corrupt and messed up Chicago is, but I must say this has almost nothing to do with gas prices.
sdslim Champion Author Florida Posts:1,889 Points:1,710,800 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:11:49 AM Ignore sdslim Report Abuse They do this so they can get more money contributed to their party.
matthwbar Champion Author Toledo Posts:4,063 Points:1,017,805 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:10:59 AM Ignore matthwbar Report Abuse the highest level of incompetence is an elected official...
marsbars Champion Author Alaska Posts:2,658 Points:1,179,820 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:10:54 AM Ignore marsbars Report Abuse Not right!
selementary Sophomore Author Michigan Posts:102 Points:32,315 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:10:45 AM Ignore selementary Report Abuse why would they take it if they weren't going to make money...to bad the tax payers will end up paying for all this
mickealo Champion Author Spokane Posts:6,162 Points:2,144,435 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:06:48 AM Ignore mickealo Report Abuse the government is so messed up don't see how it can be fixed to complex for normal people to change it we can vote them out but get more of the same its broken
spmaudio Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,739 Points:724,140 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:03:44 AM Ignore spmaudio Report Abuse Yep, and we had problems with those meters (malfunctions) right from the beginning. Thank Gawd I live in the 'burbs and can charge parking back to the jobs I do! I see this whole trend of governments selling off their assets - and the higher prices we pay as a result - as the outcome of the backlash against "big government." But remember that when a government provides a service, it only has to cover its expenses, and not make a profit. So...you still want "small government", people?? :-)
jimmy544 Champion Author Boston Posts:4,112 Points:653,855 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:03:37 AM Ignore jimmy544 Report Abuse This is a problem whenever public assets are sold to private interests in the mistaken notion that the good or service will be better administered. Always the price will go up and the service will stay the same or deteriorate. One A private company is in control of some thing it is a monopoly control and the public has no control over the good or service. The public will pay more.
planoiceman Champion Author Dallas Posts:3,279 Points:477,215 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:03:36 AM Ignore planoiceman Report Abuse Corruption in Chicago politics? Never. Not in Obama's home town.
briinnc Champion Author North Carolina Posts:2,705 Points:834,820 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:02:49 AM Ignore briinnc Report Abuse And they said the Mafia was bad.
nehemiah Champion Author Portland Posts:4,761 Points:930,615 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:01:49 AM Ignore nehemiah Report Abuse sad
ZimaKC All-Star Author Pittsburgh Posts:552 Points:548,185 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:01:42 AM Ignore ZimaKC Report Abuse they have tried this twice in Pittsburgh, but no sale so far
benjy Champion Author Chicago Posts:8,596 Points:1,788,575 Joined:Nov 2003	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 11:00:50 AM Ignore benjy Report Abuse no doubt the taxpayers got taken to the bank on this one....
dave1745 Champion Author Gary Posts:1,262 Points:738,125 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 10:57:08 AM Ignore dave1745 Report Abuse dumb ass chicago politicians
GasFreeLeaf Champion Author Orange County Posts:1,246 Points:475,530 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 10:55:02 AM Ignore GasFreeLeaf Report Abuse Ain't professional politics grand.
letterchunker Champion Author Texas Posts:2,245 Points:667,675 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 10:54:51 AM Ignore letterchunker Report Abuse ciimike is right. Private companies would not be doing this if there wasn't a great profit involved.
MadTraveler Champion Author Idaho Posts:2,082 Points:572,100 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 10:54:51 AM Ignore MadTraveler Report Abuse Yesterdays article.
boatmen Champion Author New York Posts:3,085 Points:622,805 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 10:52:58 AM Ignore boatmen Report Abuse yep money the key
pliskin Champion Author Syracuse Posts:6,086 Points:1,733,600 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 10:52:20 AM Ignore pliskin Report Abuse Chi-Town corruption, unthinkable!
goldrose1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:10,941 Points:1,925,580 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 10:52:14 AM Ignore goldrose1 Report Abuse intresting
badspots Champion Author Houston Posts:2,079 Points:675,270 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 10:50:49 AM Ignore badspots Report Abuse Sad.
peanutsMN Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,682 Points:385,890 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 10:49:28 AM Ignore peanutsMN Report Abuse Corruption? Windy City? Well ya what do you expect.
carman11 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,342 Points:692,700 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 10:49:03 AM Ignore carman11 Report Abuse THIS IS NOTHING NEW. PARKING METERS SHOULD BE THE CITY RESPONSIBILITY.
tauro514 Champion Author Connecticut Posts:3,140 Points:1,801,090 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 10:46:33 AM Ignore tauro514 Report Abuse just stupid.
sciotosix Champion Author Dayton Posts:2,749 Points:666,125 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 9, 2012 10:46:15 AM Ignore sciotosix Report Abuse Someone else can do it better than Chicago's government?