The City gets a major rake-off. Parking permits and towing deals are among the most corrupt arrangements any city makes with what are essentially the scum of private enterprise - lot owners and towing companies. Parking in Minneapolis goes beyond the pale, however. The city long ago decided that parking would be the major revenue stream beyond property taxes - and they've succeeded. Invariably, the burden falls on the poorest once again and the usurious meter rates, lot rates, tag fines and towing fees register in the millions while draining the pockets of students and working poor with impunity and disregard...not to mention many cases of theft by confiscation when they cannot afford to redeem their vehicles.
The outrageous differences between Minneapolis and almost any other city I've lived in or been puts this city at the top for its cruelty to parkers everywhere. Talk about disincentives to live or visit what should be a slam dunk beautiful town. Andy Driscoll Saint Paul -------- > From: Dan Prozinski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > I think David Brauer raises a very valid issue here. I just called a > few towing companies and here's what I found. > > If Cedar Towing tows your car from a private lot for lack of payment the > fee they gave me over the phone is $225.00 > > I called three other companies and said my car had broken down and > needed to be towed to my house 10 miles away. "How much?" I asked. > > Extreme Towing - $65.00 plus $3.00/mile (they'd be there in 45 minutes) > > D & D Towing - $45.00 plus $2.00/mile (and they'd come right away) > > Dukes Towing - $65.00 flat fee (and they'd come right away) > > > > Cedar Towing sure has a fancy fleet of trucks! Shiny custom wheels, > sparkle paint and pinstripes. If I go looking for a tow in a > competitive market it can be done for about $65.00. Besides pinstripes, > what are the added expenses with the car towed for lack of payment to > justify a difference of $160.00? > > Dan Prozinski > Cedar Riverside > > REMINDERS: > 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at > [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > > For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html > For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
