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Free Passes Here Folks
February 10, 2009
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In Albany, New York today one of the news stories speaks of what are ghost tickets and a marking in a window that resembles a bulls-eye. Let me explain parking in the capital of the state of New York. Albany contains all of the state buildings that monitor and dictate the policies that make the state run. Most of these employees live outside the city proper and pour in to try to find parking in a city where parking has always been at a premium. Since the city also contains several colleges within and outside the city limits student also make up a large sector of those vying for space to place their cars. And then we have those city residents who have their homes here. Between the hours of 6 am and 9 am it's like musical chairs with those heading out to school or residents heading to work relinquishing spots to state and other workers coming into town from outside the city. This dance is repeated between the hours of 4 pm and 6 pm when the dance reverses.
Today due to a Times Union investigation (The Times Union being the largest paper in the county) it was found that certain players in the city of Albany will take up space and suffer no consequences for the time limited meter system in place. In other words, they would get tickets that did not carry the minimum fine of fifty dollars or did not receive a ticket at all. My problem and I always have some challenge that I'm thinking about is the number of people including Mayor Jerry Jennings who claim that they had no knowledge of this activity. Now all these "local government" officials say that they will investigate and remove the process. This is all fine and well. My issue stems from the pleas of ignorance! How can people who have control over the cities laws not know when certain graces are given to the select few? In a world where it's clear ignorance is no excuse for the law one has to wonder then about those that lead us, et Al. I always find it interesting when a government official or city officials who are supposed to perform their duties in the interest of the people play partisan to those that they may also feel are entitled. Is it that the city officials including the mayor have lost perspective or is it a case where we as it were "see no evil, speak no evil?"
I would have a hard time as a politician. I have an exceedingly varied past which has left me at this point in my life and for several years prior to understand the word entitlement. I do not feel entitled to anything and as a government official I would want to change these dynamics that have hidden a lot of the way the city works since its incorporation in the 1600's. We lose sight of the days in New York City of Tammany Hall and corruption. To me this is just one other form. Is it that the little things become big things and no one wants to take the initiative? Is that the reason we all cry foul when some impropriety comes to light acting as if we had no idea this way going on? It seems to me poor politics' and a great distortion aiding in the general population to lose faith in its leaders. I know I certainly have.
Now the city council and mayor want to form a caucus to discover the how's and why's? Form a committee to find out what, that it's inappropriate, illegal and serves only those who have the means to pay for something as simple as parking. If a twenty-five cent piece can cause you to do an end around of the law and indeed some of these running backs will probably be discovered as the very people who have a say in how the laws are made and enforced, what does it say for our systems of justice?
On any given day you can talk with pretty much any local resident in the city limits and ask what one of the more pressing problems are with the city. I would venture to say without a census or consortium most would say, "Parking." C'mon guys and gals give us a break! We trust you, we vote you in, and we do so with the trust given that you will do the right thing! When something as small as a quarter dollar interferes in the fair practice of the law it certainly is a sad statement.
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On an update note. They've formed a little group to investigate the matter and as of this time, March 2, 2010 still have not concluded the matter nor has any form of justice been done.
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For too long I've messed with the wiring in my head. Now it shorts out more oft than not. But at my age I just sit and enjoy the sparks. RJM '07
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