Residents meet with city over PARKatlanta concerns

ATLANTA — Elected officials and citizens gathered at Atlanta City Hall Wednesday night to give and get feedback about PARKatlanta, the private company that has been contracted for parking enforcement in Atlanta since 2009.
 
The city's contract with the company expires next fall.
 
"PARKatlanta should be gone with the wind," said Sen. Vincent Fort, D-39th District.
 
"There seems to be a lack of oversight and accountability," business owner Johnny Martinez said .
 
The complaints ranged from overly aggressive enforcement to PARKatlanta employees breaking the rules themselves.
 
Others talked about issues with challenging tickets and broken meters.
 
Channel 2's Matt Belanger asked Anderson Moore of PARKatlanta if he thought the contract should be extended.
 
"We want to be here," Moore said. "These people live, work and love this city."

Moore said he realizes the company has some work to do if it hopes to have another contract with the city.

"If those are some of the perceptions, then we need to raise the bar yet again," Moore said. "We are here to provide a service. We have no incentive to gouge."

But even that point was at odds with much of the criticism heard Wednesday night.

"The fact of the matter is PARKatlanta is predatory. All the things said tonight are that they are preying on the citizens of Atlanta and visitors to the city," Fort said.

There are two more public meetings scheduled. The next is Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Inman Middle School on Virginia Avenue.

WSBTV