`Parking fees should be increased'<\/p>\n
The city administration plans to impose a new parking system for
\nstreet parking using prepaid cards next month. Residents,
\nhowever, told The Jakarta Post that they doubted its
\neffectiveness due to the presence of \"self-appointed\" parking
\nattendants in parking lots.<\/p>\n
Chris Ismutyanto, 46, is a manager of a local non-governmental
\norganization in South Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I think the new parking system will not be effective due to
\nthe existence of thugs. It is no wonder that the city
\nadministration gets less revenue because most of the money is
\ncollected by thugs, who then hand out some to city officers to
\nsecure their operation.<\/p>\n
If this system is imposed, it would only favor the group that
\nruns the project.<\/p>\n
Funnily enough, paying the thugs that operate in parking lots
\ndoes ensure the safety of our cars. But with the new system, they
\nwould probably not want to protect our cars and this would make
\nmotorists feel more unsafe.<\/p>\n
It is hard to reject their demands for parking fees, as
\notherwise they would vandalize our vehicles.<\/p>\n
So, the consumers in this case would have to pay twice as
\nmuch, namely for the prepaid parking cards and these self-
\nappointed parking attendants.<\/p>\n
I would prefer a system with higher parking fees. It would
\nminimize the number of unproductive vehicles on the street and in
\nparking lots.<\/p>\n
Bobi, 27, is a parking attendant in Blok M, South Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I do not agree with the new parking system because the use of
\nprepaid cards will affect my income.<\/p>\n
Frankly, I used to be a bad guy and I have reformed due to
\nthis job. The new system will squash me as a low-income earner.<\/p>\n
Besides, I would feel uneasy about requesting a parking fee
\nfrom those holding prepaid cards. I'm sure I will be in difficult
\nposition.<\/p>\n
The city government never sides with people like me. I'm just
\none of hundreds of other parking attendants who will probably
\nlose their jobs.<\/p>\n
I don't have any idea of how to get by. Should I turn to my
\npast dark world again?<\/p>\n
Nurul, 24, is an employee in a private company in Tanjung
\nPriok, North Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I would agree to the new parking system only if it guarantees
\nsecurity. The city government must not be profit oriented and
\nignore the public's rights.<\/p>\n
I'm afraid that the new parking system will be ineffective. As
\nlong as the government allows hoodlums to operate in parking
\nareas, car owners will be paying double, to the government and
\nthe thugs.<\/p>\n
The thugs may damage the portable electronic tools used in the
\nnew parking system as it prevents them from generating an income.<\/p>\n
I know of an employee who poured hot coffee on an electronic
\nmachine for clocking-in to work at an office because he did not
\nlike the system, so what more thugs?<\/p>\n
-- Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/parking-fees-should-be-increased-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }