Chicago parking meters have been in the spotlight this week, but they’re popular for the wrong reason. As a result of a $1.2 billion deal to lease the city’s meters to a private company — approved by the City Council Thursday — parking rates will spike to at least $1 an hour, and some downtown parking spots will end up costing $6.50 an hour by 2013.
The deal has drivers up in arms, so in the interest of fairness, RedEye caught up with a city parking meter to get its side of the story.
It’s Tuesday. Mayor Daley drops this bombshell on the public that rates are going up. What’s going through your mind at that point?
Oh my gosh. Total shock. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to look people in the face and demand more money. I mean, I’ll pretty much look the same, but …
But it’ll hurt on the inside?
Yeah, exactly. Behind this metal exterior is a bunch of … raw … metallic emotion.
What do you say to the drivers who are angry right now?
I guess I’d say, “Don’t shoot the messenger.” Or, “Don’t spray paint vulgarities on the messenger,” if you will. Look, I’m getting hit where it hurts too. I can’t even smoke a cigarette. I’m less than 15 feet from an office doorway.
And you can’t move.
Right. One of the drawbacks of being a meter. Kind of sucks. I’d like to go to a movie someday.
Which one?
I saw ads for this horror movie that looked good. “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” or something like that?
Casual Friday is a, er, casual look at the week’s news. Got an idea for us? E-mail ritaredeye@tribune.com or Tweet us.
