Comments on: Parking Squatters or a Chicago Tradition?

By: Chicago Native

Chicago Native — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 23:49:12 +0000

Obviously, Alderman Gene Schulter has a driveway or garage that he parks in. If you’re not out there breaking your back to shovel 500 lbs of snow, keep it shut. Let “parking squatter” rules be decided by neighborhood residents and by the people actually doing the work. Woe to the moron who moves my chairs and parks in my space. I promise that the snow I removed to get my car out will be replaced two fold to bury the car that steals my space.

By: g

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:49:42 +0000

It’s not a Chicago thing. They do it in Boston, Newark, Milwaukee, and St. Louis. And those are only the places I’ve lived and witnessed it. I’m sure that it happens elsewhere, too.

By: Chicago Prints

Chicago Prints — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:31:29 +0000

I say its fair game.

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By: Lisa Gregg

Lisa Gregg — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:49:47 +0000

Just got an email from my alderman, who also doesn’t support this tradition. This is what his email said:

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The Department of Streets and Sanitation issued a statement yesterday reminding residents to remove any “space savers” that they have put out to secure parking spaces.

There has not been any snow since Tuesday and except for the possibility of a couple of extremely light flurries late Friday and possibly Sunday, we aren’t likely to get any measurable snow for quite a few days.

Given this break in the weather, we would like to ask residents to start removing any items that they have left in the street to save a parking space.

To be clear, my office and the City of Chicago does not advocate or support residents saving the spaces that they dug out or placing private property in the public way. However, the Department of Streets and Sanitation’s primary goal after a storm is plowing and salting. At this point, these items are nothing more than obstructions in the public way and should be removed. Any items left in the public way will be removed.

Best Wishes,
Alderman Gene Schulter

By: Rodd

Rodd — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:34:44 +0000

Being a Chicago native, this has happened to me a couple of times. Once already this winter, i left a stern note completely duct taped (all four sides) simply stating that I shoveled out this spot NOT THEM. And I always leave my name and address even my doorbell #.

By: Katie Anderson

Katie Anderson — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:21:54 +0000

I absolutely loved this article. I literally laughed out loud while reading it. I have shoveled out a few cars as well and have never tried to save the parking space. I have never been able to grasp the concept of trying to keep a public parking space. I am a firm believer in Karma. Those who key cars for taking that prized spot will pay in some other way down the road!

By: Dean Wicklund

Dean Wicklund — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:54:52 +0000

I really hate this tradition. I believe it started in the winter of 78-79 when we had a ridiculous amount of snow and Mayor Bilandic was famously ousted from office because he couldn’t remove the snow. Guess what folks, if we all shovel out our cars we’ll all have a parking space anyway. Say no to dibs!

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:14:35 +0000

After shoveling out a few cars, I certainly understand the sentiment. I have never actually done it, but I think that is mostly because after shoveling, I am too tired and lazy to go grab junk to put in the spot.

By: Jamie Franz

Jamie Franz — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:02:22 +0000

Robert,
That’s some funny stuff and I was thinking about this the other morning as I was dropping Kayli off for pre-school. What a joke, but great article.

Jamie