Council members push for taxpayers to subsidize their downtown parking

[thelakelander]

Two members of Jacksonville’s City Council want to use taxpayer money to subsidize parking inside City Hall for council members.

Council President Stephen Joost filed legislation (2012-202) that will be introduced Tuesday, and has picked up a co-sponsorship from Johnny Gaffney.

If enough members approve it, and if it’s continued into the next budget year, the cost would be about $18,000 annually.

Some council members, who are paid $44,100 annually, already lease spaces inside the building for about $85 a month. Others park on the street but say they are running risks by being public servants and they deserve free parking.

“We should be able to get in and out of our cars without having to interact” with an angry voter, Councilman Reggie Brown said. “I should not have to pay for safety.”

full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-03-23/story/jacksonville-council-members-push-taxpayers-subsidize-parking

[Garden guy]

At 44k..they make more in their part time job than many many people make in full time jobs..let the people who voted them in pay for their parking.

[Bativac]

“We should be able to get in and out of our cars without having to interact” with an angry voter, Councilman Reggie Brown said. “I should not have to pay for safety.”

Give me a break. These guys act like they're the president of the United States or something. You're a city councilman. Somehow I don't think you're in mortal danger walking from your car into the building. Not to mention - you work part time and you're making over $40k a year which is more than my wife, my sister, my brother, etc. make working 40+ hours a week. Pay the $85 a month out of your salary for a space inside the building. Or carpool.

[thelakelander]

My bill is $90/month to park a block away from my building and I don't get the extra $44k.  They should just pay for their parking like everyone else down here has to.  If they don't want to, then don't run for the position, carpool, use mass transit, bike, or do a mix of all.

In reality, those of us who are in downtown on a daily basis are all negatively impacted by downtown's parking situation.  Those who visit and aren't familiar with the area are also negatively impacted as well.  Businesses, who's customers routinely get ticketed are negatively impacted as well.  Perhaps, it's time for the council to seriously address the larger issue, which helps stymie market rate downtown development, instead of only worrying about themselves.

[Tacachale]

This doesn't bother me at all. The mayor doesn't pay for his own parking or park on the street. If this is how they want to use part of their own travel budget, fine. It's not like they're trying to raise taxes or fees or anything - they're trying to use money already budgeted to the council to manage something for the council.

Of course the timing's not great considering the budget cuts, but when would be better? And the "safety" issue is obviously a wash. If they want to be "safe", they could park in City Hall now if they shelled out the $80 bucks a month. But if they'd rather budget this than, say, one of their Tallahassee trips, let them.

[thelakelander]

From that perspective, I'm fine with it.

[buckethead]

My bill is $90/month to park a block away from my building and I don't get the extra $44k.  They should just pay for their parking like everyone else down here has to.  If they don't want to, then don't run for the position, carpool, use mass transit, bike, or do a mix of all.

In reality, those of us who are in downtown on a daily basis are all negatively impacted by downtown's parking situation.  Those who visit and aren't familiar with the area are also negatively impacted as well.  Businesses, who's customers routinely get ticketed are negatively impacted as well.  Perhaps, it's time for the council to seriously address the larger issue, which helps stymie market rate downtown development, instead of only worrying about themselves.

Like^

[buckethead]

I am not fine with it because it allows councilpersons to ignore the plight of the general public.

It exempts them from living as the rest of us are forced to do.

Pay or free parking for all.

[avs]

Gaffney doesn't repond to the people in his district that he works for, and this is what he is spending his time on? 

[NthDegree]

Pretty inflammatory headline.

Three hot buttons:  "council members push[ing]" "taxpayers subsidize[ing]" "downtown parking [problems]"
And it appears to have produced the predictable and desired reaction.   
   
              TU: +1
City Council:   0

Too bad the readers let the TU do the thinking for them. 
I agree with tachachale, let them allocate budgeted money to pay for parking if they prefer.     

[buckethead]

Nth.... Are you a councilperson?

[TheCat]

their quoted statements are soooooo audacious that a simple explanation of realigning budgeted dollars becomes irrelevant. their statements, in the context of the article, come across as disrespectful, aloof and arrogant.

but, i'm a big fan of political honesty. and we should applaud their willingness to be upfront with their arrogance.

[NthDegree]

TheCat:  Granted, some of the council members' statements are stunningly stupid and selfish sounding.

buckethead: No, but I keep my eye on things in Jacksonville. Mostly I just lurk.  And thanks for asking, I'm flattered because you have fairly well run city.  Not that I agree with the way leadership prioritizes transportation. Not that I don't think you have elected (and appointed) a few arrogant yahoos here and there.  On this issue, in particular, you've got some residual anxiety over the violent murder of a high profile community leader and so, an attempt to "make things safer" for those in public sight.  And even if the justification is misunderstood and the attempt weak, it is rational.                             

[peestandingup]

These people are idiots & aren't connecting the dots to their own dilemma. Its been discussed to death, but I'm 100% convinced a big part of downtown's problems stems for their parking/metering policies. There's meters everywhere. Every-where. Paid surface lots too. And usually tons of empty ones at that. Yet none in Avondale, 5 Points, King, San Marco, etc. So guess where people go & guess where businesses move to??

If they have to go, let them pay for parking in a deserted downtown like the rest of people down there have to do. Or make parking free.

[Noone]

The legislation will be withdrawn.