Changes to Decatur Booting Ordinance Hit Primetime
Decatur Metro | March 4, 201011Alive’s Doug Richards contacted me yesterday to get some background on this story and asked whether I was interested in giving a wrap-up of events on-camera that led up to the changes in the booting ordinance. I declined, in large part, because of the wider controversy I helped create surrounding it.
But I did suggest he talk to Peggy Merriss and I’m happy to see he was able to get a couple quotes from her about the situation.
Also I love how Doug pops-out from behind the various parking signs during the segment. Who knew a booting segment could be so humorous!?
Here’s an idea: WALK!
The parking “controversy” baffles me. Park at one of the many free meters on the weekends or park in the courthouse parking deck. Or, better yet, walk!
Just have to thank this blog for informing me about the free city garage on the weekends and evenings. Hubs and I have been parking there the past few weekends. Of course, we still do a lap in the Brickstore lot and the Eddie’s lot, but know if we don’t find a spot, we can park in the free garage.
Minor nit: the deck behind the courthouse is owned and operated by the County, not the City.
I commend this woman and others for working to improve this situation .
That’s a great thing about Decatur. If you see a problem you can speak up. City officials are accessible. You may not get your way but you will be heard.
I’ll be watching for Doug Richards lurking behind the parking signs. Seemed a little creepy to me.
I’m curious as to why the city fast tracked these changes to the ordinance? When other changes to our ordinances are suggested it is always sent to committee, told we’d study it, do a citizen review, make it part of our 10 year plan, etc. Was it because Peggy just decided to do it?
And I have to agree with the commenter above. There is plenty of free parking in Decatur (particularly at night and on weekends). If a private lot wants to charge for parking and enforce it when people don’t pay, why should government stop it?
Dear 11Alive: Last time I checked, “aggressive” had two g’s.
Dear DM: Aren’t you glad that it’s 11Alive I’m ragging on for a spelling mistake and not you?
Dear Paula,
May I comment you for the correct use of “it’s,” which is, as we both know, ALWAYS a contraction and never used to denote a possessive.
DM, as a blogger/journalist, your role in “creating” this controversy doesn’t differ from the AJC’s role in the “yellow line,” or in bringing to our attention other community problems because of their efforts. I see journalists interviewed on the air all the time.
So, I think you should feel free to be available as a source, if you want to. Journalism is changing, and sites like this are filling a void that is being left by the dwindling print media.
I don’t personally think this thing can plug the hole left by my beloved newspapers. (Go out and buy or subscribe to one, just for the Suduko!). But I think you are playing a valuable role, here.
PAULA, you MUST know TV reports can’t spell. They usually can’t get their facts straight, either.
I think he declined to go on camera because the truth is that DM is 15 years old and lives in Nigeria where he runs a lucrative spam operation.
Seems like Caroline kinda benefited from the unsolicited Decatur Metro feedback from comments. The 11Alive (print) story doesn’t mention her hubby’s car booting. Maybe one day she’ll look back fondly on her media training boot camp experience.
[She earns an A if she's savvy enough to acknowledge on DM that the speedy fixes to the booting ordinance weren't just the result of a one woman show!]
I have to add that Nell is awful quiet on this one.
May I borrow the poking stick back for a minute?
Hey Doug Richards–
(Assuming that, like a good reporter, you’re still following the story…)
What’s the deal with the overall tone of this piece of reporting? I mean, you’ve got Peggy Merriss miscast as some sort of evil Dick Cheney/Parking Overlord! And all the other stuff– I feel like I watched “Twilight Zone:Decatur’s Parking Perils!”
?????
I once parked at a meter on Commerce to have brunch at Sweet Melissa’s THINKING it was Sunday, when in fact it was a holiday Monday (no work—think it was Labor Day). I sat and ordered, and then it dawned on me that it was a weekday, and I jumped up and SPRINTED to my car thinking I’d have a boot on it. Luckily I didn’t. So, I know parking is free on weekends and after 6pm, but is it free on holiday’s as well?
This doesn’t answer your question but I don’t think you will ever get a boot at a meter. A ticket, yes, but not a boot.
Yep, free on holidays. Watch out for Saturday, though. Technically, meters are not free on Saturday.
The parking meters on the square used to say free on weekends and holidays and now they don’t. What’s up with that? When did this change?
They’re not free?
What makes you think they’re not still free?
I believe that I learned somewhere at an official City of Decatur meeting that meters are free only on Sunday and holidays, not Saturdays. However, at that time, about 3-4 years ago, they hadn’t started enforcing Saturday meter use. Don’t know if they ever started.