Peaches and Cream

Your Center City Correspondent wants you to know that living in town is not all peaches and cream. One of the tradeoffs you make is the parking situation. We got a District 6 sticker when we moved in which lets you park in a legal spot anywhere in the district, regardless of the 2-hour limit on most streets in the neighborhood. The sticker doesn’t guarantee you a spot on your street, just that you’re allowed to park in the zone.




I apologize to those of you who might have already heard this story, but others might want to hear it now that the final chapter has been written. Back in August, we parked the car in a legal spot on our block. Two days later without any advance warning, somebody slapped up a Temporary No-Parking sign right where the car was parked and moments later the car was ticketed and towed to a lot in southwest Philadelphia. In the car’s place on the street was a mobile storage unit for someone who was moving that week. I wish the rest of the city government was as efficient as the Parking Authority. For the most part, I applaud their work, and anytime I’ve spoken to them, they’ve been cooperative and occasionally helpful. Later that same day, my neighbor gave me a lift to the lot so I could bail out my car, to the tune of $180. Ouch. I can tell you at the time that Mrs. CCC and I were ready to bite the heads off nails we were so mad and frustrated. We took our venom out on a few pints at the local bar and gave those poor people an earful. And to add insult, the ticket was for $50 on top of the tow charge.



So I requested a hearing from the parking authority and yesterday (Nov 12) I had my day in court. It was a damp, drizzly, cool day matching my mood. It took place at 9th and Filbert, right behind the Gallery and down the street from the bus terminal. I went loaded for bear, with pictures and statements, but it was pretty anti-climatic. I related a condensed version to the hearing officer and she immediately “dismissed the ticket.” I walked out feeling like something resembling justice had just occurred, but all I kept thinking was the question I used to ask our son, “Can you afford to keep that car?” I’m still trying to figure out that answer for myself. Like I said, not all peaches and cream.



All for now. Enjoy your weekend.