City Hall News

PARKING METER MADNESS

In August, one candidate for state senator was running on a platform to eliminate parking meters. Although he lost the primary, his stand might be a bit more popular in view of increased fines by the city. New charges for parking violations include a raise from $1 to $2 for being at an expired meter. Although lower than the original fines proposed by the city administrator, the new fines are sure to increase revenues for the city. In addition to increased fines, a new ordinance will allow drivers to keep their cars at a meter only the length of time on the meter, no matter how much money is deposited. In other words, you can't put in more money after the maximum times has expired without getting a ticket.

2 FAST FOOD JOINTS JILTED

And where will all this new money pouring into the city's coffers go? Well, most likely, to the high city officials who just received massive rasies, despite earlier claims that the city was broke (which led to the total elimination of all social service funding and massive laoyoffs starting in July of lower level city employees.).

The top 24 executives in City Hall were given increases ranging up to 10% in one case. That increase went to the airport manager (and yet the city residents have continually voted against any expansion of the city airport -- with many actually favoring its elimination altogether). Of course, the man in charge of Streets, Parking and Traffic got a nice 8% raise, probably for all his innovative work in increasing parking fines. Executive salaries now range from $18,000 to $32,000.

EXECUTIVES SALARIES ON THE RISE

While two big holes on Maynard between William and Liberty Streets mark the foundations of the new McDonald's and Burger King restaurants, city Hall is apparently heeding citizen outcries against further such developments.

In a surprise move, two such places were voted down last week following protests from area residents. The first one to be wiped off the planning board was a Bonanza Restaurant to be located in the Broadway-Plymouth area (near North Campus). A petition with 1,600 signatures finally convinced Council Republicans to support efforts to keep development out. It may be with crucial April elections for Mayor and Council growing ever closer, the Repubs are increasingly wary of upsetting voters by continuing policies for unchecked growth. Last spring, for example, they voted in the McDonald's and Burger King despite a petition with 6,000 signatures. In addition, they are now fighting a court suit over the large Packard-Platt shopping center which also did not have the support of area residents, but which they approved anyway. These kinds of developments, approved in the past by the Council majority party, have alienated even staunch Republican supporters.

A second restaurant was also voted down by Planning Commission last week. This one would have filled the last remaining vacant lot among the Washtenaw strip. However, it is possible that it will reappear later in a less plastic guise which may yet get Planning Commission approval.