Does Chicago Own Its Own Streets? A Streetwise Investigation
You might think, "Of course, Chicago owns its streets. They're part of the city, right?" Well, hold onto your hats, folks, because this tale is as winding as a Chicago alleyway.
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| Does Chicago Own Its Streets |
The Great Parking Meter Heist
It all started with a cash crunch. Back in 2008, Chicago was feeling the financial pinch. So, what does a city do when it's broke? Sell its parking meters, of course! Yes, you read that right. The Windy City decided to auction off a 75-year lease on its 36,000 parking meters to a group of investors led by Morgan Stanley. For a cool $1.15 billion, the city traded control of its curbside cash cows.
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Pay to Park, and Park to Pay
Now, you might be thinking, "Okay, so they sold the parking meters, big deal." But it's a huge deal. This means that anytime the city wants to do something that affects parking – like add a bike lane, host a parade, or even fix a pothole – they have to cut a check to the private company that owns the meters. It's like paying rent on your own front yard!
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And let's not forget about the price hikes. Those meter rates? They skyrocketed. It's like the city replaced its friendly neighborhood meter maids with ruthless parking enforcers.
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So, Who Really Owns the Streets?
Technically, the city still owns the streets themselves. But that private company has a pretty strong grip on a lucrative piece of city real estate. It's a complicated situation, to say the least. It’s like owning a house but renting out the driveway to a stranger.
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The bottom line: While Chicago might technically own its streets, the city's ability to control and profit from them is severely limited. It's a classic case of short-term gain for long-term pain.
How to Navigate Chicago's Street Situation
- How to avoid getting a parking ticket: Use public transportation, walk, bike, or teleport (if you have that ability).
- How to support local businesses: Park in garages or lots, and spend some extra time exploring the neighborhood.
- How to advocate for better city policies: Get involved in local politics and let your elected officials know how you feel about the parking meter deal.
- How to find free parking: Check for street cleaning schedules and meter expiration times. Or, you know, just hope for a miracle.
- How to make peace with the situation: Accept that you'll probably spend more time and money on parking than you'd like. But hey, at least you're not alone!
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