[SkateDC] yet more on Parking in DC

[Susan Burgerman]

Just to prove that I can out-civics lecture anyone: before you MD & VA
residents take this opportunity to rant about corruption and waste in DC
governance, do please remember that our admin and council are severely
hamstrung in deciding how to allocate their puny resources. Go ahead and
point the blame for draconian parking regs that are guaranteed to put
downtown restaurants out of business on the congressional representatives -
elected officials, put there by real citizens like y'all - who control our
budget.

-----Original Message-----
From: skatedc-bounces at ligemail.lig.net
[mailto:skatedc-bounces at ligemail.lig.net] On Behalf Of Andrew Baxley
Sent: Saturday, January 23, 2010 12:05 PM
To: skate at skatedc.org
Subject: Re: [SkateDC] Parking in DC


Yeah the new parking regs totally suck.  But, as a DC homeowner, I
understand the district's need for creating revenue streams.  Pardon the
civics lecture, but here goes:

 

Even with the most responsible government, DC's tax base is limited. A large
chunk of DC is composed of federal agency buildings that pay no property
taxes. Allowing no buildings taller than 12 stories in DC cuts into the
property taxes that could be generated from high-rise condos.   

 

And people who live Maryland and Virginia and work in DC don't pay any DC
income taxes.  In other parts of the country, people who work in one state,
but live another pay income taxes in the state where they work.  Congress
isn't about to allow that sort of commuter tax here anytime soon.  

 

That shiny new baseball park?  Maryland and Virginia didn't pay a dime for
it.

 

Suburbanites have been getting a free ride in DC for a long time and would
do well to get over themselves.  So, while the new regs suck, they're
entirely understandable.  To amend a long-time motto, "shut up, feed the
meter, and skate!"  (;-)   

"That's peanut butter!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuT5kMoYc1w


 
> Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 08:06:59 -0800
> From: skatewash at yahoo.com
> To: skate at skatedc.org
> Subject: [SkateDC] Parking in DC
> 
> Folks,
> 
> Here's a change I was hoping wouldn't happen, but it looks like it already
has:
> 
> D.C. raising parking meter fees, extending enforcement hours
> Briefly, as of 1/19/10 metered parking will now be enforced until 10 PM
Monday through Saturday, with rates of $0.75 to $2 per hour depending on
location.  Obviously this will impact those who drive to the Wednesday and
Friday night skates and any special skates on Saturday.  Sunday parking is
still free (so far).
> 
> For more details:
> 
>
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/09/AR2010010901
456.html
> 
> Maybe this will encourage more people to come into the city in the
evenings and on weekends </sarc>
> 
> Not a happy skater,
> George
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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> SkateDC at ligemail.lig.net
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