One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Should Pregnant Women Get Preferred Parking?
Parking perks for preggos: As make-believe as the baby bumps of these costumed Halloween revelers? (Photo by binaryLA via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
Ladies, that lovely glow isn't the only potential benefit of your baby bump. Imagine if your expectancy netted you parking perks, like free parking at city meters? Don't throw out your NuvaRing just yet, Angelenas. The new law is actually on the table in New York City, but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen here, right?
NYC "Councilman David Greenfield plans to introduce legislation next week that would grant special parking placards to pregnant women whose doctors say they have physical or mobility challenges," reports Gothamist. "The women could then park for free in no-parking or no-standing zones until 30 days after their expected due dates - a cushion of time for those whose deliveries come later than expected - or who need to recover from childbirth complications," explains the NY Daily News.
In Los Angeles, we can use our cellphones to find a spot (err, but not while we're driving, right Glendale?) and then expect to pay out the nose for it for shorter time periods than before. Parking is at the crux of many a civic entanglement here, from the Hollywood Farmers' Market to the city's control of parking garages. Even drivers of low-emissions vehicles lost their free meter privileges in 2009.
Will expectant mothers find favor for parking in Los Angeles more than food trucks at First Fridays? Do you think pregnant women should get parking perks?
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
