Alderman seeks to raise city sticker price for all gas cars (Chicago: crime, neighborhoods)

[MannheimMadman]

Originally Posted by aragx6

This is the line that doesn't make sense to me. Which is it about? Emissions or wear-and-tear on the roads? A Toyota Corolla is certainly not a "large car" but would be subject to the city-sticker increases nonetheless.

But 12 years is a heckuva long time without an increase, and this is a very modest increase, so I don't see reason for particular public outcry (of course I don't live in Chicago any more though ...)

How much are city stickers in other large metros? I tried to google Los Angeles and NYC, but didn't see anything comparable. It looks like NYC has some sort of inspection sticker?

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by MannheimMadman

How much are city stickers in other large metros? I tried to google Los Angeles and NYC, but didn't see anything comparable. It looks like NYC has some sort of inspection sticker?

Good question -- someone should ask on their forums!

[Attrill]

I believe other cities handle it in different ways - i.e. a resident sticker that you don't have to buy, but it is impossible to park anywhere without one. State inspection stickers are pretty common on the East Coast as well, and you have to take your car in and pay a mechanic in addition to the state fee. When I first moved to Chicago I was surprised at having to get a City Sticker, but I was also surprised at how much my insurance costs dropped, so I didn't really care that much.

Originally Posted by aragx6

But 12 years is a heckuva long time without an increase, and this is a very modest increase, so I don't see reason for particular public outcry (of course I don't live in Chicago any more though ...)

That's pretty much how I feel about it. I'm not surprised at all that the fee is being raised when it's been flat for so many years and there is such a large budget shortfall. The final increase that passes (if it passes) will most likely be smaller than the one Moreno called for (which he expects).

[Chi-town Native]

I wish they'd do a better job of getting deadbeats that live here but don't register their cars/thus avoid having to buy a sticker.

Anyone remember the outcry a few years back when the Sun-Times did a sting with the cops on how few people in the Gold Coast buy city stickers? Apparently many people have utterly confused a city sticker with "paying to park on the street."

[Alacran]

ChicagOwned

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

I really don't think Chicago is THAT outrageous of all places.

No, but if people keep sitting back and letting crap like this happen it will be up there soon.

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by Drover

Looking at the condition of our streets, I think the taxpayer is owed an accounting of where the hell the wheel tax money is going before being asked to pay even more.

This happens every year - the streets deteriorate all winter and they can't really start working on them until mid-April. The same thing happens in Boston too. I give them until mid May before I start bitching.

[emathias]

Perhaps the original poster could actually explain what the heck this thread is about for those of us who aren't glued to news feeds?

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Attrill

This happens every year - the streets deteriorate all winter and they can't really start working on them until mid-April. The same thing happens in Boston too. I give them until mid May before I start bitching.

That would be great if they actually fixed them instead of just dumping some cold patch asphalt in the potholes, tamping it down a bit, and hoping it holds for more than a couple months. Streets in my neighborhood still have potholes that cropped up 3 or 4 winters ago.

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by Drover

The purpose isn't to keep pickup trucks off LSD but to keep commercial traffic off of LSD. The easiest way to do it is to simply ban vehicles registered as trucks. The fact that it catches non-commercial F150s and Subaru Brats is a side effect, not an intended effect. If your pickup isn't registered as a truck, you can still drive it on LSD.

buddy's car was an F-250. it's definitely a truck, but I'd doubt it's actually any larger than a lot of the bigger SUVs.

the grating aspect of this all was when Bush and the GOP ran through that tax break for light trucks for small business owners that *did* cover SUVs, Hummers, etc. I know it's too much to ask for government to be consistent, but sheesh.