If there is insurance coverage for parking meters, that’s the business I want to be in. One of my last blogs was about parking meters in Iowa being stolen off the street, and now there’s news from Yarraville, a town in Australia, about meters being heavily vandalized. According to theage.com, between 15 and 20 new meters have been damage intentionally. Many have had their screens smashed to bits and others were smeared with construction glue.
The article reports that some 3,000 members of the community in Yaraville signed a petition against the installation of parking meters. It reports:
Local traders and residents have launched an aggressive campaign against the introduction of paid parking in the area, arguing it will negatively affect business.
That aggressive campaign has gone beyond aggressive and well into destructive. If I were police, I’d be looking at the names on that petition for my suspects. Of course, the leaders of the opposing faction have, in very vague terms, denied responsibility.
Yarraville Village Says No to Paid Parking convener Megan Darling said the council had “blatantly disregarded” community sentiment. Ms Darling said it was “awful” that people felt vandalism was the only option left to take.
So far the damages are at $40,000 and climbing. Read the article here.
