Friday, October 5, 2012

Behind The Hate-Mayor Rahm Handicaps Curb Parking


Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday proposed tightening the rules that determine whether city residents can have disabled parking zones set up on streets in front of their homes.
The changes, which must be approved by the City Council, would only allow such zones near homes where a disabled person lives and a vehicle that transports them is parked. The rules would make it clear such zones aren't allowed for paratransit vehicles or relatives, said Laurie Dittman, senior policy analyst for the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities.
The proposed ordinance also would make clear that if a disabled person has another available, accessible space, the city won't put up disabled-only parking signs on the street for that person, she said. In addition, the city would allow a maximum of 1 in 5 parking spaces on any given block to be designated for disabled parking.
There would be a couple of ways to get a decision reversed. One is to appeal to City Hall. The other is to take the issue to a City Council member.
Under the tradition of aldermanic privilege, a City Council member can ask colleagues to override the recommendation of City Hall officials. And nearly always, the alderman wins out.
@chicagotribune

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