City CFO Saffold Says Meter Suit Has No Merit
The lawsuit is wholly without merit, both factually and legally, and the City will vigorously defend against it. In their press conference and legal filings, the organization made a number of misstatements of fact, and their allegations have been both erroneous and irresponsible.
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First, the City did not delegate the ability to set rates for parking meters, as the organization and its counsel assert. The parking meter concession agreement and the City’s Municipal Code are clear: the setting of meter rates is a reserve power of the City. That power cannot be assigned to the concessionaire, Chicago Parking Meters, LLC (CPM). Changes to the rate structure and hours of operation can be implemented, but only through action by the City. CPM is obligated to abide by these decisions. CPM’s activities are limited to the operation, management, rehabilitation, and collection of the parking meter system.
Fourth, the City bears the financial costs of meter removals today, just as it did before the parking meter concession was approved. Historically, the City has always had the risk of negative revenue impacts when meters were removed. The City continues to bear that risk.
Re: Much has been revealed—about the parking meter deal posted by Mick Dumke, August 21
Given that amount of airtime, I’ve asked Mr. Dec to turn his camera on his friend Mayor Daley to ask why Chicagoans should trust him and his friends to run the 2016 Olympics in a clean, transparent manner. I mentioned the parking meter mess, ongoing TIF abuse, FOIA issues, and even suggested that Ben Joravsky be permitted to conduct some of the follow-up questioning of the Mayor during this “celebrity” interview at City Hall.
When it comes to learning about what our aldermen and other elected officials are up to, I think we should adopt a six-word motto: the more, the sooner, the better.—nssf04
