What's Next for Parking Garage?

Submitted by Gene Patterson on January 24, 2006 - 9:25pm

A report by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms concludes the City/County Parking Garage is a vulnerable target for a terrorist attack. The report describes it as a "high risk" target. Given the information contained in the report, County Commissioners delayed a vote on a resolution calling for the garage to be reopened to the public.

Carlene Malone, former City Councilwoman and a member of the "Lift the Barrier" campaign, says the reasons given for keeping the garage closed to the public - primarily security concerns - now makes little sense, since the report says the garage is a security problem with or without public parking.

So why won't officials open the garage and use the revenue generated from public parking for additional security? Good question. It could be that all those "public spaces" have been taken by city and county employees who used to park at Kessel, the Coliseum and elsewhere, but who now would be very angry to leave the city-county garage.

Comments

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Comments

Where did you park when you

Submitted by Grayson (not verified) on January 26, 2006 - 8:05pm.

Where did you park when you worked there Mr. Patterson?

I parked at the city county

Submitted by Gene Patterson on January 26, 2006 - 10:02pm.

I parked at the city county parking garage during my three years in city government. But remember, the public was alllowed to park there during that time. If the choice came down to the public's convenience or mine, I'm pretty sure the Mayor would've chosen the public...and I would've agreed, though probably reluctantly. One thing is sure...once a perk or benefit (ie a spot in garage) is given, its very difficult to take away..

My only concern here is that

Submitted by Grayson (not verified) on January 27, 2006 - 1:02am.

My only concern here is that Carlene Malone has vilified rank and file workers. My niece works in that building and she is terrified of some public shooting like in Roane County, our heaven forbid like the Murrah building in Oklahoma.

I realize the building was open during your time there, but only the truly priviledged got to park there then at the cheap rate, which I doubt the movers and shakers there would have been too keen to pay 5 bucks a day.

What's forgotten here is that those employees are citizens too. Taxpayers too. And public servant doesn't mean slave...if the building is reopened and the employees booted it will cause a flood of people seeking to park in pay lots, pay lots that they are ill ready to afford(they aren't paid much) so it would be like a pay cut.

Like I said, I just don't want public sector workers vilified. My niece is proud of her service. Thanks for reading, and keep up the good work in the regular newscasts

I'm not sure only the truly

Submitted by Gene Patterson on January 27, 2006 - 1:28am.

I'm not sure only the truly priviledged parked there during my time, but I agree no one should be villified in this debate... My experience with city workers is that most - 99.9 percent - are hardworking dedicated public servants. But that doesn't change the fact that parking for citizens with business in the City-County Building is almost impossible. And its even more difficult for those with handicaps.

Carlene Malone appears this Sunday on Tennessee This Week.. We'll talk to her about the "Lift the Barrier" campaign. And her thoughts about your concerns...