Council member: Alternate side parking could be election issue

Cutting the enforcement could be popular 
for those trying to get elected

Gary Padesky has called La Crosse’s alternate-side parking rules a money grab in the past.

The city council member had pushed hard on his proposal to shave just a few weeks from the parking period in the “winter” – cut two weeks from the rule at the end of March and beginning of November – during warm weeks with little chance of snow accumulation.

“People just don’t like to have to pay (an alternate-side parking ticket),” Padesky said. “And, on a 60-degree night, going out and moving their car.”

His proposal fell a vote short late last week, but that’s not going to be the last vote, Padesky says, believing this could impact the next election cycle for the city council.

“I should talk to legal and find out how soon I can bring it back up, for sure,” Padesky said. “Maybe a good time to bring it up again would be before the next elections.”

Padesky’s claims that alternate-side parking was a money grab by the city were reinforced when some in city hall admitted the revenue helped balance the books.  

At least they were honest, Padesky thought.

“And the ones who pretend it’s about other issues, should take a timeout and put themselves in the corner, because this is all about money,” Padesky said.