No Free Parking? That's the Last Straw for These Reporters

In Vermont, the reporters for the Burlington Free Press have had it. It's the last straw. They are seething over...parking.

"While people are angry,” said one veteran journalist at Vermont’s largest daily newspaper, this week “the prevailing mood is one of disgust.”

“We feel absolutely frustrated and undervalued,” said another reporter at the Gannett chain’s Burlington Free Press on College Street in downtown Burlington. What these staffers were referring to was the announcement on Monday by Free Press management that ordinary working stiffs at the newspaper (excluding executives and the outside sales staff) would no longer have free parking provided by the newspaper. Depending at which downtown private lot they use — most are within two blocks of the office — Freeps employees began losing their free parking spots on Tuesday.

Free Press staffers, who spoke to “Inside Track” on the condition they not be identified, told us they were “stunned.”

It gets worse. Management also removed the “bottled spring water” from the newsroom, our sources say. Instead, faucets on the bathroom sinks in the staff men’s and ladies’ rooms now have mesh filters over them.

Great!
“The reason parking is provided,” said our source, “is because we often need our cars to cover a story. It’s part of our job.”

Management made the announcement to individuals or to small groups. As Monday afternoon unfolded, we’re told, “People were standing around, openly complaining. People were pissed and took it as a personal insult.”

But, sources added, Carey’s real message was, “If you don’t like it, find a new job.”
The fact is, said one reporter, “We’re spread too thin as it is.”

“They’ve finally crossed a line,” said one reporter. “They have no idea what we do in the newsroom.” “Our CEO makes $16 million a year,” said another, “and our news operation has become unimportant — even locally.”

Paris Follows Lyon and Installs Bicycles to Rent

Up early again for a shift at the cafe. I read the Gazette and found an AP story that was inspiring. Paris has decided to follow the lead of Lyon and install a city-wide network of kiosks for cheap bike rentals. In the months ahead more than 20,600 bikes will be available for short term rental...and the best part is, the first half hour is free! Residents will be able to obtain a card for about $13 for a year's worth of rentals.

"It has completely changed the landscape of Lyon--everywhere you see people on the bikes," said Jean-Louis Touraine, the city's deputy mayor. He added that the bicycle program was meant "not just to modify the equilibrium between the modes of transportation and reduce air pollution but also to modify the image of the city and to thave a city where humans occupy a larger space."

I've often felt this way about our New England cities, that are so dominated by the road. Take downtown Northampton, for example...why do trucks and so many cars have to plow through the busy downtown just as people are all walking and trying to cross the street? Why hasn't anyone ever tried to block the traffic, or at least closed the major part of Main St. so that people could walk and not worry about the cars? If you've ever traveled to Boulder, Colorado, or to Burlington Vermont, (see photo above) you'll see what removing cars does to a downtown. It makes them much more about the people, not the steel and rubber that moves them around.