"Up and Running"? Or "dEAd" and Useless?

 

According to the latest announcement on the city's website, "THREE PARKING KIOSKS UP AND RUNNING."  This is false information (as well as poor grammar).  While the $10,000 kiosk at the Amtrak station lot appears to be operating properly, the $10,000 kiosk for the Warren Street parking lot closest to Fourth Street was not working this morning.  I followed the directions on the screen to no avail.  And I have no doubt that the $10,000 kiosk at the County Mental Health Building parking lot meant for SATURDAYS ONLY (what a stupid idea!) is also not ready for prime time (or Saturday time even!).  But even if it is "up and running," what a stupid fucking idea and waste of time and money it is!  (I'll check on it some other time.)

This was the best the kiosk on Warren had to offer.  Sorry, 
HPD, this is not "up and running"! (What "permits"?)

For several months earlier this year before they called it quits, Jen Belton and her merry band of Parking Study experts discussed at length the need for, location and design of signs for the kiosks. But there aren't any signs up right now, and one wonders if those plans have been scrapped altogether.

Also of note, it appears that someone has decided that FREE PARKING ON SATURDAYS IN THE CITY'S FOUR MUNICIPAL PARKING LOTS is a thing of the past.  It has been the case for at least the past ten years (and probably a whole lot longer) that the city offered cheaper meter rates on weekdays AND free parking on Saturdays in all 4 downtown city-owned parking lots.  This was done to persuade people to park in lots instead of on and near Warren Street, particularly on busy Saturdays.  Smart and sensible, right?  Not anymore, pal!  HPD knows better! 

Some of the meters on Warren Street now have the FREE PARKING IN CITY PARKING LOTS ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY notification crossed out with a magic marker.  This happened very recently, perhaps this week.   

Talk about crass!

However, in a laughable twist, the meters inside the Warren Street parking lot still have the FREE PARKING notification for anyone to read and heed.  This morning, these two meters, still offering "FREE PARKING" on weekends, were as dEAd and useless as the $10,000 "up and running" parking kiosk 50 feet away:

Things are unravelling in spectacular fashion, aren't they?!