Parking in the news *

In theory I'm all for the city's latest crackdown on illegal rush hour parking. Being the only car holding up a lane of traffic these days is uncool, to say the least. But I'd hope there's also been reform of the extortionate towing fees and the impound yard practice of requiring cash-only to get your car. And—if it turns out to be a revenue-generation strategy or is accompanied by any campaign cash to the mayor from towing firms or their lawyers and lobbyists, outrage should follow. Mostly, though, I just hope the program isn't being run by the same parking bureaucracy that this week installed meters in front of Sean Bonner's art gallery near downtown. Bonner notes at Blogging.la that the city painted a public parking space—with meter—across his driveway. He's got pictures, but he can't get anyone at City Hall to listen.

* Somebody listened: Sean posts that Mayor Hahn's office called to promise something will be done.