“The Parking Deal” is in full swing here in sweltering Harrisburg and the word on the street is that City Council President Linda Thompson is about to vote to approve the leasing of our parking garages and meter system to a New York City firm for just over two hundred million dollars for a seventy five year lease.

On the surface, it sounds like a good deal. Get a big windfall of dough, bail ourselves out of some bad debt tied to the bonds on the parking garages and additional city debts.

But the kicker- and what hasn’t been pushed to the forefront of the discussion thus far- is the stipulation that the leasing company will have virtual free reign over rates, fees and additional meters that may be placed within the city’s parking zone.

What this means to you, the taxpayer and resident of The City of Harrisburg is this: if you live within the Harrisburg Parking Authority jurisdiction (which covers most of the down and uptown areas from Mulberry Street at Front all the way to McClay up to Cameron and back to Mulberry), you WILL see additional meters, increased rates in the garages, higher parking ticket costs and exorbitant enforcement of new parking zones.

Sure, these things aren’t going to happen today or next week or even this year- but in due time, we will find ourselves paying more for services that do little to benefit us- the citizens of this city- but pad the pockets and bank accounts of a very select few.

Take five minutes and watch this in-depth explanation by James Roxbury. And when you’re done, contact your city council to let them know that you OPPOSE the “deal of the century”.

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