PARKING: Happy this isn't Chicago

It seems like a few people have a problem with the new downtown parking fees.

I’d like to explain why I continue to be grateful to live here, though this town in not as quiet as it used to be.

I lived on the west side of Chicago for three years. I got tickets all the time for parking near a fire hydrant at home because there was literally nowhere else to park.

It gets better. On four occasions the vultures — as I called them — towed our car and held it for ransom. Because of poorly placed “no parking” signs in parking lots usually.

Once we were parked in a “customers only” lot at a currency exchange (an oxymoron — they never exchanged currency with me). We were customers. Found the car gone after 20 minutes and hiked 5 miles to their headquarters to pay $115 we couldn’t afford. They didn’t care about our explanation or our right to have been parked where we were.

So when I read whining about having to pay one lousy dollar an hour to park, I roll my eyes. Outside of July 4 you can easily find legal parking in Coeur d’Alene. Be grateful, I sure am. Just wanted anyone who hasn’t had the misfortune to live in a cesspool of a city to know what they’re missing.

P.S. Public transportation wasn’t free either. Not much is. No offense to Chiciagoans. My husband came from there.

LINDSEY KIERNA

Hayden