The private company that runs Chicago's parking meter system has sent City Hall another bill, bringing the total amount of money it's demanding from taxpayers to nearly $50 million.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported May 4 that Chicago Parking Meters LLC had sent two parking-reimbursement bills to the city totaling more than $27 million. One was a $14 million tab for revenues the company says it lost when the city took meters out of service last year because of street closures. A second bill, for $13.5 million, seeks reimbursement for free parking the company says it provided to people displaying disabled-parking placards or license plates in 2010-2011.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration had been bracing for another hefty disabled-parking reimbursement bill for 2011-2012. That third bill — for $22 million — arrived just last week, according documents Emanuel's administration provided to the Chicago Tribune.
The mayor is refusing to pay all three bills, which total about $49.5 million, and has disputed how the company calculated them. Chicago Parking Meters has declined to respond to Sun-Times questions about the issue.
Meanwhile — in response to the Sun-Times recent "Meter Cheaters" investigation — the Illinois Senate this week approved legislation that is expected to stop Chicago Parking Meters from seeking multimillion-dollar reimbursements for providing free parking to the disabled.
Illinois law has allowed handicapped motorists to park for free in metered zones for decades. The legislation, now on Gov. Pat Quinn's desk, would change that in 2014.
It would set up a two-tiered disabled-parking placard system that would allow only wheelchair-bound and other severely disabled people to park for free in metered spots.
The Sun-Times last year observed dozens of able-bodied people using relatives' placards, deceased people's placards, fake placards and even stolen placards to cheat Chicago's meter system. A subsequent Sun-Times report revealed that taxpayers are on the hook to reimburse the meter company for drivers who use disabled-parking placards or plates to park for free.
The deal that privatized Chicago's meter system in 2008 has been widely criticized for selling taxpayers short. Under the plan championed by former Mayor Richard M. Daley, Chicago Parking Meters was given the right to keep all meter revenues until 2084 in exchange for a $1.15 billion upfront payment to the city. Drivers have since seen sharp increases in parking rates under the deal.
Friday, May 24 2013 12:58 PM EDT2013-05-24 16:58:00 GMT
CTA Ventra payment card holders who use the card's controversial debit features won't be charged for talking to public transit customer service operators or using the cards for cash ATM withdrawals.
CTA Ventra payment card holders who use the card's controversial debit features won't be charged for talking to public transit customer service operators or using the cards for cash ATM withdrawals.
Thursday, May 23 2013 2:07 PM EDT2013-05-23 18:07:37 GMT
A 25-year-old man has been cited for driving the wrong way on the Chicago Skyway after a head-on crash with a pickup truck Thursday morning that sent four people to hospitals.
A 25-year-old man has been cited for driving the wrong way on the Chicago Skyway after a head-on crash with a pickup truck Thursday morning that sent four people to hospitals.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:10 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:10:07 GMT
Though at least five ambulances and Fire Department personnel were dispatched to Midway Airport when a 737 reported a cracked windshield, the plane landed safely Wednesday morning.
Though at least five ambulances and Fire Department personnel were dispatched to Midway Airport when a 737 reported a cracked windshield, the plane landed safely Wednesday morning.
Monday, May 20 2013 2:53 PM EDT2013-05-20 18:53:43 GMT
Five people died and six others were taken to hospitals Monday after the van they were riding in left a southern Illinois freeway and overturned several times, Illinois State Police said.
Five people died and six others were taken to hospitals Monday after the van they were riding in left a southern Illinois freeway and overturned several times, Illinois State Police said.
Sunday, May 19 2013 12:32 PM EDT2013-05-19 16:32:45 GMT
A 23-year-old woman was killed and four others were critically injured when two cars crashed into a building in the Far South Side Washington Heights neighborhood early Sunday.
A 23-year-old woman was killed and four others were critically injured when two cars crashed into a building in the Far South Side Washington Heights neighborhood early Sunday.
Friday, November 23 2012 8:49 AM EST2012-11-23 13:49:13 GMT
Two people were killed and over 80 hurt Thursday when at least 140 vehicles collided in Texas. The pileup that left trucks twisted on top of each other and authorities rushing to pull survivors from the wreckage.
Two people were killed and over 80 hurt Thursday when at least 140 vehicles collided in Texas. The pileup that left trucks twisted on top of each other and authorities rushing to pull survivors from the wreckage.
Monday, September 3 2012 1:12 PM EDT2012-09-03 17:12:11 GMT
The nation-wide average is $3.80 for a gallon of unleaded regular. That's $0.13 higher than 2011, and the highest gas prices have ever been on Labor Day.
The nation-wide average is $3.80 for a gallon of unleaded regular. That's $0.13 higher than 2011, and the highest gas prices have ever been on Labor Day.
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