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As I See It

Mayor Kabat should read the tea leaves on his parking plan

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La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat wisely read the tea leaves when he pulled the plug on a proposed wheel tax in the city of La Crosse. He was smart enough to recognize that his call to charge an annual $25 per vehicle to raise money for road repairs simply didn’t have the support of the city council, or the community. Perhaps then he has also noticed that his call for charging some people to park on public streets isn’t all that popular of an idea either. Kabat wants to charge for parking on the streets in certain neighborhoods near our college campuses. Homeowners living in that area would continue to be able to park on their streets for free, but others, primarily college students, would be forced to pay $1 per hour. The thought is that students would be more likely to park in existing ramps, clearing up space on the street for those living there. But that seems discriminatory, and may be based on false logic. City hall says UWL and WTC lots regularly have space available, but UWL’s chancellor says not only are the lots not empty, there are waiting lists for those seeking ramp space. And apparently no one in city hall bothered to talk to university leaders to find out the facts. People don’t like the idea of paid street parking any more than a wheel tax. Kabat would be wise to read the tea leaves on this idea as well.

 

Scott Robert Shaw serves as WIZM Program Director and News Director, and delivers the morning news on WKTY, Z-93 and 95.7 The Rock. Scott has been at Mid-West Family La Crosse since 1989, and authors Wisconsin's only daily radio editorial, "As I See It" heard on WIZM each weekday morning and afternoon.

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