The world famous Getty Museum in Los Angeles is free. No cost, zip nada. If you drive, however, you have to pay to park. It was $10 and has been raised to $15. All the granola types have come out of the woodwork. Read a local blog here.
You go to Dodger Stadium; you pay $15 to park, PLUS entry to the game. You go to the Hollywood bowl, ditto, Staples Center to see the Lakers, the same. So what’s the problem? New Yorkers comment that this is elitist Los Angeles. Hell, ever tried to visit the NY Museum of Art or the Guggenheim? You’ll fork over big bucks per person.
My guess is that the Getty’s what 1000 space garage is beginning to fill and they need to entice people to car pool, or take the bus, which drops you off just across the street. And why can’t people take the bus. It runs fairly regularly from all parts of the city.
People can afford a $20,000 car, gas, oil and insurance, why shouldn’t they pay to park it. Getty had to build a garage costing millions so people could park, why should money that could be used to make a better museum for everyone to go pay for the folks who decided to drive instead of take the bus.
The blogger linked to above says he’s going to go to the museum less now because of the new pricing. I would love to see where he is going instead. Perhaps to the Disney Concert Hall to see Esa Pekka’s last concert or perhaps to Disneyland? How much will he pay to park there and not complain about the entry price? Just asking…
JVH
