John Street Says City To Take Back Parking

It's a move that Republican legislators want to block. Republican House Speaker John Perzel engineered state takeover of the Authority in 2001. Street said the city should be managing its parking, not letting others do it. "A mayor should never have to negotiate with outsiders to determine parking policy in this city," Street, a Democrat, said. The authority has managed city parking--meters, tow trucks, ticketing, and parking garages--under a 10-year agreement with the city. Street said the Republicans had added 200 workers and begun to meddle in affairs that should be handled by the city. The authority has 750 workers and a budget of $136 million.