Who Owns All Those Pesky Parking Meters?
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| Who Owns All The Parking Meters In Chicago |
A Tale of Two Cities (or One, Really)
You've probably cursed them, you've probably fed them quarters like you’re throwing coins into a wishing well (only to realize your car's still gonna get towed), but have you ever wondered who actually owns those little metal money-suckers scattered across Chicago? Well, buckle up, because this story is about as thrilling as a parking ticket.
The Great Meter Heist of 2008
Back in the golden days of 2008, when gas prices were reasonable and the world wasn't on fire, Chicago was facing a budget crisis. Desperate times call for desperate measures, right? So, the city decided to sell the rights to all its parking meters to a private company, Chicago Parking Meters LLC, for a cool $1.15 billion.
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Imagine selling off your piggy bank because you needed a new pair of shoes. That’s basically what happened.
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Meter Madness
Now, you might be thinking, “Great deal for the city!” Well, not exactly. Since the sale, parking meter rates have skyrocketed, and the city has been kicking itself harder than a meter that's been hit by a runaway shopping cart. It's like trading your gold watch for a handful of shiny rocks and then realizing the rocks are actually worthless.
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The Meter Mafia?
So, who are these mysterious meter masters? Well, it turns out they're a group of investors, including some foreign ones. It’s like a real-life Monopoly game, but instead of buying Boardwalk, they’re buying parking spots. Talk about property goals.
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How to Make Peace With the Parking Gods
Okay, so you can't exactly become BFFs with a parking meter, but you can at least improve your relationship with it. Here are a few tips:
- How to avoid a ticket: Use a parking app or pay by phone. It’s like ordering pizza, but for your parking spot.
- How to find free parking: Explore residential streets, or consider public transportation. Your wallet will thank you.
- How to deal with a broken meter: Take a picture of the meter and dispute the ticket. It's like playing detective, but with less excitement.
- How to vent about parking meters: Find a parking buddy to complain with. Misery loves company, especially when it comes to parking.
- How to embrace the inevitable: Accept that parking in Chicago is a challenge, and that sometimes, you're just gonna have to pay the price.
Remember, parking meters are just trying to do their job. They're not personally out to get you. Probably.
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