Chicago city clerk Susana Mendoza pushed through with her proposal to grant special parking tickets to real estate agents, so that they will be able to park freely in the whole of Chicago -- without being presented a parking ticket.
According to the report of Chicago Tribune, the proposed special parking permit will cost the interested real estate agent (who is based in Chicago) an annual payment of $500. This will gain the agent the right to park between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. in any of the residential parking zones that blanket much of the city. Real estate agents who are based outside the city boundaries will have to pay $800 if they want the same special parking permit.
A resident of Chicago needs to pay $25 and an additional fee for city sticker rates each year, if they want to park in front of their own homes on streets zoned for resident-only parking. Mendoza also stated that city officials have been having a discussion whether to raise the annual residential parking fee, but the conversations between the aldermen had died down.
Mendoza estimates her proposed program for the special parking permit of real estate agents to gather a total net income of $900,000 for her office by next year.
If the program is passed and deemed to be successful, Mendoza plans on extending their special parking permit to contractors, delivery companies, cable television companies, and other businesses that now rack up lots of parking tickets for leaving vehicles in permit zones during the day.
That being said, it is not sure if she will still be in her office when her proposal comes to fruition. She is on the bid for the position of the state comptroller.
During her budget hearing on Tuesday, she was asked about her thoughts on the possible merge of comptroller and treasurer offices. "I am very much in favor of consolidating when it makes sense, I don't think I'm there yet. Clearly, I don't know whether or not it makes sense at this time to do that," said Mendoza.
What do you think of this recent news? Do you think that this will be equitable and beneficial to the residents of Chicago? Share your comments below.
