MPA slights the Grove big time
The Parking Authority is offering $3.00 parking, a flat rate in their garages for back-to-school shoppers for the whole month of August! But guess what -- it is for Downtown Miami only!
According to their come on, "Miami Parking Authority offers three parking promotions that make visiting Downtown even more convenient, affordable and fun."
1) Every weekend in August, shoppers may park for a flat daily rate of only $3.00 at one of MPA’s three downtown garages.
2) The same garages will also offer flat-rate parking of $3.00 for up to three hours every weeknight after 5:00 p.m. for the entire month of August.
3) Every weekend in August, on-street parkers whose meters have expired will be issued a special “Courtesy Citation” explaining that they have been granted up to one free hour of parking beyond their expiration time, thus avoiding a parking ticket. The Courtesy Citation program will apply to all MPA metered on-street spaces in the central business district.
A courtesy of an hour? They don't even honor the courtesy of 10 to 15 minutes we have here in the Grove! They stand over the cars with their watches out, counting the minutes until they can pounce!
“Downtown Miami is a key economic engine for the city and the back-to-school season is a great time for residents and visitors to explore the diverse offerings of the shops, restaurants, services, arts and culture,” said Art Noriega, CEO of the Miami Parking Authority. “The added incentive of tax-free shopping days in August and affordable parking from MPA makes it a can’t-miss deal.”
Miami Parking Authority's motto should be: "Rape the Grove; Support Downtown Miami."
And last week, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) wrapped the City Commission around their little fingers at the budget hearing. Is it any wonder why the Grove needs to be it's own city/village? I honestly think the time has come for action.
According to their come on, "Miami Parking Authority offers three parking promotions that make visiting Downtown even more convenient, affordable and fun."
1) Every weekend in August, shoppers may park for a flat daily rate of only $3.00 at one of MPA’s three downtown garages.
2) The same garages will also offer flat-rate parking of $3.00 for up to three hours every weeknight after 5:00 p.m. for the entire month of August.
3) Every weekend in August, on-street parkers whose meters have expired will be issued a special “Courtesy Citation” explaining that they have been granted up to one free hour of parking beyond their expiration time, thus avoiding a parking ticket. The Courtesy Citation program will apply to all MPA metered on-street spaces in the central business district.
A courtesy of an hour? They don't even honor the courtesy of 10 to 15 minutes we have here in the Grove! They stand over the cars with their watches out, counting the minutes until they can pounce!
“Downtown Miami is a key economic engine for the city and the back-to-school season is a great time for residents and visitors to explore the diverse offerings of the shops, restaurants, services, arts and culture,” said Art Noriega, CEO of the Miami Parking Authority. “The added incentive of tax-free shopping days in August and affordable parking from MPA makes it a can’t-miss deal.”
Miami Parking Authority's motto should be: "Rape the Grove; Support Downtown Miami."
And last week, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) wrapped the City Commission around their little fingers at the budget hearing. Is it any wonder why the Grove needs to be it's own city/village? I honestly think the time has come for action.
posted by Tom Falco at 9:00 AM
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12 Comments:
The useless Downtown Development Authority used a slick lawyer to get a budget increase. Shame on them.
The useless DDA should be returning money to the taxpayers not demanding more.
I think that Grove business owners might have grounds for an injunction based on the argument that discriminatory parking incentives violate the equal protection clause.
Just a thought. Don't take as legal advice.
lol i can't stop laughing at this.
there are zero places downtown for back to school shoppers to well shop.
what're they going to buy? obsolete electronics? some shoe repair? trinkets aimed at tourists?
FAIL
why don't we give cheapo parking to all the places no one wants to go, it wont cost the MPA anything anyway.
MPA, BID, DDA = mafia.
Sigh.
Brian - you hit the nail on the head. I used to work down there and there is nothing to buy but $3 shoes, $5 suitcases, and obsolete electronics. Oh, well there is a Ross and you know thats the boss. I dont even know how these places afford the rent.
Downtown Miami looks like a third rate down on its luck South American city. Tired and dirty.
Downtown looks a lot better now than when I moved my office to the Grove 6 years ago. There are more restaurants, planters on the streets, less beggars harassing you. It looks to me like the DDA is doing its job. What I want to know is why the MPA didn't offer a similar deal to the BID to help the Grove's businesses attract customers.
The DDA's job was not to make downtown look pretty. It was to make it "work". The majority of the money they have they use to sponsor the Miami Chamber of Commerce and hold events.
The DDA has squandered itself over the past years almost as bad as when they were caught stealing money years ago. It needs to be re-imagined and with an aggressive focus on bringing in small business' not hotels.
Oh and the less panhandlers are a cause for one the city commission putting no panhandler zones and
two
The City of Miami Beach being cited and fined for dumping their homeless in the middle of downtown three times a day.
If the city wants to promote shopping in Miami then suspend the fees to park in the entire city on weekends in August. Could save some money too not having meter maids and toll collectors...
Anon 6:17 July 30
Kindly explain the reference to 3rd rate down on it's luck South American City because I am hard pressed to find an example. Bogota is a leader in green initiatives and Medellin, Cali and Baranquilla are all thriving. Cartagena is a world tourist destination as is Rio de Janeiro. Sao Paulo is a financial capital, and Santiago de Chile has long enjoyed a financial boom. Caracas is oil rich, and Lima has a long illustrious history. Of course most people are familiar with BA as a world class city with comparisons to Paris, and even Asuncion, German influence nonwithstanding is charming. But as you arevno doubt incredibly well travelled so as to reach that keen observation, I am sure you will rescue that comment from remaining a tiresome and inacurate cliche.
If you've been Downtown lately, you can see the difference the dda has made. Downtown has been abandoned by the City of Miami. The DDA did not manipulate the Commission, in fact the mileage rate has been unchanged for 44 years and as property values decrease, so will peoples tax bill. The City and the County need to step it up!
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