Saying they’re concerned about undue burdens that may be inadvertently placed on less prosperous residents, the Boston City Council last week floated a proposal for a sliding scale for parking fines based on income.
If approved, parking fines could be based on a driver’s income taxes, which would make tickets more expensive for wealthier drivers and less expensive for lower-income parkers. City Councilor Julia Mejia, who proposed the legislation, says she’s surveying city residents to see how they feel about the potential change. Others said they’d rather see less towing implemented or adjusting meter prices to lessen any burden on lower-income users.
Adaptive reuse of parking garages has been an industry conversation topic for a few years, but now consumer-facing publications are getting in on the topic. Forbes features a story about the Motor Mart Garage in Boston, which was built more than 90 years ago. While its occupancy numbers are relatively healthy, they largely come from big bumps during shows at a nearby theater.