First of all, what’s all this crap about changing the name of the Sears Tower to the “Willis Tower” or whatever the fuck the new owners want to change it to? Pfft. That’s like renaming Wrigley Field, know what I’m saying?
And get this — the other day Brian and I had lunch in The Neighborhood, where a quarter gets you an hour at a parking meter. Imagine our surprise when we discovered that now, an hour costs 4 quarters! WTF. It’s even more expensive in other neighborhoods. Christ. Apparently, Da Mayor leased the meters to some company for the next 75 years. You read right: 75 years, and I’m not shitting you. Oh, but get this — parking ticket fines still go to the City!
I’m not even going to go into how bad the streets are with some serious potholes from this past winter, and that it seems like nothing’s being done about them. Or any time soon, at least. Bad enough the City took forever plowing the snow.
You know what’s happening to this City? I’ll tell you what’s happening: it’s going to be the end of the Daley Dynasty, that’s what.
I’m telling you, you should move back to Ohio. You two could be very happy in Columbus.
Cheaper, if any, meters and the Buckeyes, right?
Exactly!
I have not lived in Chicago in 10 years, but still go back due to family! I still love it there, except winters are brutal. Meters – $1 an hour – yes, that is not good!
And in some neighborhoods you only get 7 minutes (or so) for a quarter — $2 for an hour! Downtown I think it’s $3.50 for an hour. And the meter hours have been extended from say, past 6pm in some areas and in others they’re 24 hours! They’re also 7 days a week now, too — no more freebie Sundays.
It seems everything is getting out of control. It feels like we, as citizens, have absolutely no say or control about anything. I don’t pay for parking, so I cannot understand your rage. But, rage on, girlfriend!!
Most residential streets don’t have meters, but in high-traffic areas, parking permits are required so people who live there can find spots when they get home. Some permit areas are open to non-residents during weekday work hours.
Fortunately for us, we have permit parking. The weird thing (though why question a good thing?) is that it’s only our stretch of street from one corner to the next. If you park a block north or south on the same street, no permit is required. Same if you drive to the end of the block and turn the corner, again, no permit’s required (I hope I’m making sense). Also, ours is in effect 24 hours a day, which is sweet, though I’ve lost my mad parallel parking skillz. Oh, this reminds me — I need to buy more temporary permits for guests.
Mainly we have to pay to park when we go places unless they have a parking lot, which most places don’t — except for like Walgreens, Target, grocery stores, places like that, and some restaurants (if you’re lucky).
I don’t know if I told you this before, but my family is from Chicago. I’m not from there, but I’m a Chicagoan by affiliation. LOL! I’m gonna have to tell my mom about that b.s.
You know, I don’t think you ever told me but I read it in one of your blog posts just a few months back. Oh, yeah — your mom’s gonna love this. People are actually boycotting meters!