CHICAGO, May 10 (UPI) -- Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is pushing a plan that would trade an additional hour of paid parking during the week for free parking on Sundays.
So far, 24 members of the City Council say they support the mayor, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday. Emanuel needs two more votes to win approval for the measure.
Some of the doubters appear to be moved by distrust of Chicago Parking Meters LLC, the company that services meters in the city and has filed nearly $64 million in disputed claims. Michael Zalewski, who heads the city council's aviation committee, said he would like to see free parking on Sunday but wants to make sure there are no hidden snags and called for extended hearings on the deal, which modifies a 75-year lease granted just a few years ago.
Howard Brookins, head of the black caucus, supports the mayor.
"We have a significant number of mega-churches in my ward. I see a significant benefit to those folks who can now go to have breakfast on the North Side or even in Beverly and not have to feed the meters on Sunday," he said.
