Ciprian Ciucu wants to eliminate all parking gratuities: “For the people of Bucharest, it is cheaper to have nothing”
The General Mayor of the Capital, Ciprian Ciucu, announced on Friday, March 6, that he intends to eliminate all free parking fees for the parking lots managed by the Bucharest City Hall, arguing that the number of cars currently benefiting from exemptions is twice the number of available spaces.
Parking fees could be eliminated. PHOTO FB Bucharest City Hall
The mayor explained that, under these conditions, the entire parking management system becomes inefficient and expensive for the city, according to Agerpres.
“For the people of Bucharest, it is cheaper to have nothing, to leave them all free (…), we just give them paint, but we no longer have people who to charge for parking, local policemen to be blocked to issue fines. The entire parking infrastructure no longer justifies its existence, if you stay at a number of freebies greater than twice the number of parking lots. Yes? 6,000 journalists, don't be angry with me, my colleagues told me: Well, don't bother with journalists, you're putting the press in your head! My dears, I also pay for my parking, as mayor. 6,000. Maybe we can find a formula so that a newsroom has a number of, I don't know, 5, 10, but 6,000? There are hundreds of newsrooms.
So, if you think that's why I have to hate your guild, that I'm removing this gratuity, then so be it, but let's do what's right for this city! Hybrids and electrics, combined with what I said earlier, means double“, declared the mayor, during a press conference.
“When you get to double the number of cars that can park for free, what would you do in my place?”
Ciprian Ciucu emphasized that the decision should be seen as a pragmatic one, necessary for the good administration of the city and for balancing the budget.
“The car I drive is a hybrid car. I have nothing against people, but let's make decisions that are about the records, that are about normalcy! When you get to double the number of cars that can park for free, double the parking spaces, what would you do in my place? It's just a normal decision to balance the budget. Under these conditions, we can call it the parking service for electrics, hybrids and journalists and treat it as such. It's a policy in this meaning, but it is a parking service for the whole city, and they want to have access to a parking space. It is just a normal decision, I apologize, but I hope that we will all be rational and make the right decisions“, added Ciprian Ciucu.
