Parking Wars – Not showing Philly’s best side

According to the New York Times the folks who are responsible for Philadelphia's image don't like A and E's "Parking Wars." Read all about it here.

I've seen the show only once and commented at the time that it is a most boring program. It shows the same thing, over and over and over. People get a ticket. People complain about the ticket, People eventually pay their ticket. The people are usually folks who are scofflaws, who have many (sometimes hundreds) of unpaid tickets, and feel that they are put upon. Of course, these folks usually live in the how should we say"less than nice" parts of town, and may have some reason to feel that the "man" is focusing on them.

Of course, all this yelling, and citing and drama is done on a background of the dirtier and poorer parts of the city, and don't really put the parking officers in the best of light, although in my opinion at least for the show I watched, they all seem to be doing a good job.

So Philly is upset since people are writing letters that they aren't going to visit the City of Brotherly Love due to the image that's reflected in the show.

I can sort of understand that. A friend of mine who lives in Shanghai refused to bring his family to LA because he thought the city streets were like those he saw in movies and on TV. It took me three years to convince him that his family would be safe in Beverly Hills or Santa Monica. But I digress.

Someone must be watching the show; it's been reupped for a new season. But my guess is that its renewal is as much due to the fact that it is inexpensive to produce as its popularity.

The local press has asked the Mayor and Governor to step in and have the show cancelled. Of course they can't do that, something about that pesky First Amendment (the Inquirer didn't know about freedom of speech, oh well). However the Governor's office did have a comment. "Do what the Governor does, don't watch it."

Seems about right.

JVH

Comments

[Lynne Schumal]

But, showing people paying their tickets in an orderly fashion would not be good reality TV! Of course, the producers of Parking Wars will show all the 'ugliness' of parking enforcement. As someone wise once told me - 'parking is a grudge cost'. It's difficult to make this industry into a bed of roses when customers pay us because they HAVE to!

So, what isn't mentioned in your post is how much the City of Philadelphia is being paid to be on Parking Wars? If the Mayor does not watch, I bet he still cashes the checks from the Parking Wars production company. Food for thought. :-)

[new hobbies]

Where can I find a list of street names in Shanghai, China that can be
cross referenced with their names pre-1949.

[viagra online]

The term has become very popular war, is now used to make mention of every trifle, so is the fat, cravings, cellulite, in movies, but this is a word that nobody wants to live in reality, that God bless our lives with peace.
D. Scott Matthews
2610 Cherry Ridge Drive
Alden, NY 14 004

[miami internet]

As someone wise once told me - 'parking is a grudge cost'. It's difficult to make this industry into a bed of roses when customers pay us because they HAVE to!

[cialis online]

Hi, thank you for sharing this great info. Was just browsing through the net in my office and happened upon your blog. It is really very well written and quit comprehensive in explaining with a very simple language.

[cialis online]

Great post. I think one of the basic things that we should know know is that we must always make sure that you are safe in every transactions you wanted to indulge with.