Can't Park your Problems in Chicago

According to the Tribune, "Rates for most city parking meters will increase to $1 an hour starting Jan. 1 as a result of Mayor Richard Daley's deal to lease the spots for $1.1 billion to a private firm. Two-third of the city's meters now cost 25 cents an hour, but once the paperwork is finalized, any metered spot costing less than $1 per hour will increase to $1 next year, city officials said today. And by 2013, those same metered spots will cost $2 an hour, according to City Hall. The most expensive meters, which are found in the Loop, cost $3 an hour now. They will increase to $3.50 an hour next year and $6.50 by 2013." Most city parking meters to cost $1 an hour

In addition, No more parking meter holidays under lease deal. That detail came out during a hearing when Paul Volpe, City Hall's chief financial officer, told aldermen there will be "no meter holidays" under the 75-year lease deal. That means parkers will have to feed the meters seven days a week, all year round.

Mayor Daley and the State of Illinois have been doing these 75 year or 99 year leases of government assets to raise money to deal with budget shortfalls. The implication of these deals for the public, over the long term, is ominous.