welcome to ybor city, this is only a warning
The word from another Tampa blogger:
There are a lot of nice people in E.B.’s World. Of course, E.B.’s World is Tampa Bay, and we all know that Tampa is full of great people:
I went to the same Starbucks twice in the same day, 13 hours apart. The second time I was given a free cup of decaf. Not because I was a repeat customer, because how would they know, but because people are good. Really it may have been laziness or just ease. But her simple action, my belief that she meant good, was enough to make me smile. It was a long day (evidenced by the stop at the ‘bucs on Dale Mabry twice) and her easy gesture was a nice one. The idea that someone else’s off handed thoughtfulness could make me so happy, is an interesting one. A science of happiness. It does not even depend on her intent or desire to do good. Like I said it was probably that they were closing and she had shut the register. But it was that it meant a lot to me. Maybe I was in need of a boost, caffeine or otherwise, but it hit the spot and made me feel good about people. In the pop study of happiness psychology, reflecting on what makes you feel good at the end of each day is considered an important innervation. Doing so is supposed to be good for you. In the end, it makes you a happier, healthier person.
I got this “ticket” while dining at Acropolis the other night.
A fun-spot Greek restaurant in Ybor. Could the people of Tampa be any nicer? A warning, that was so kind and unassuming. Smacks of good people. Again, a decision on the part of the government not to ticket those visiting or those who made a “mistake”. Mine was laziness; I just didn’t feel like putting money in the meter. It was dark, I was alone and running late. I would rather pay a ticket than stand and feed money into a machine, especially in a dimly lit lot at night. Seeing that the city was willing to forgive my transgression again made me smile. Very generous and unassuming. Made me feel good about people, myself, and this time specifically the city of Tampa. You don’t get this goodness in a bigger city. And isn’t that why we live here? An affirmation of good on a number of levels; especially that I chose to live in the right place and park in the right spot. A good decision. Oh and a crazy good meal - those Greek’s know how to have a good time.
The wonderful folks that live in Tampa are all over the place. I wanna hear about your run-ins with them.
Tags: blogs, citizens, city, law enforcement, tampa, ybor
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February 12th, 2007 at 11:28 am
hhmmmm…..youd rather pay a $25 ticket than put 25 cents in a meter? your prozac is working well, sir….
February 12th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Ok, I have never, EVER seen a parking warning down in Ybor. The one parking enforcement guy I usually see down there is highly unyielding and seems to enjoy his job too much. I have some lovely nicknames for that guy, but I won’t share them here.
Maybe someone was just having an extremely lucky day. I would have bought a lottery ticket …
February 12th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Tampa uses their parking ‘enforcers’ the same way they use code enforcement and cops. Let’s just say when someone I know became employed there, I started getting tickets every time I went to downtown Tampa. Bunch of thugs.
There is one chubby blonde-haired girl who actually circles me while I am parking so that she’ll know where I am. Sits right there waiting for the meter to change. It’s a hoot, she is paid just to follow me.
I have never ever paid any ticket. They go out of their way to harass me and I pile up the evidence of same. 100% of the time I go to downtown Tampa I collect a ticket. Is this some type of message? ROFLMAO ! Hang up the phone, already. They also give tickets for expired tags which cannot be legal considering that is the job of cops and I think that would fall under the heading of cruel and unusual and DOUBLE punishment. Maybe that’s why we live here. There ain’t NOTHIN like live entertainment …
February 12th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
I have never heard of parking warnings either, you were lucky. Just wanted to add that if you haven’t tried the Grape Salad with a glass of Retsina wine at the Acropolis, you have missed a lot !
February 12th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Yes I would rather pay the fine, than stand in a dark empty lot and feed money into the machine (not a meter). It is just not safe.
February 12th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
I got a warning once. Weird too, I don’t think it was Ybor though. Downtown I think. It has been a couple of years, I didn’t realize it was not a ticket until I went looking for the amount. Maybe I will shoot a question over to parking enforcement and see why and under what circumstances they do this.
February 12th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
obviously you have never been subjected to the fascist pigs of TPD who are bored and subject innocent citizens to mental torture and fear of being dragged from your car and beaten and arrested for no reason.
February 12th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
I am always confused at bit by this, do folks think the parking enforcement guys are police? They don’t work for the police, don’t effect arrests, aren’t sworn to anything, and certainly aren’t armed. Their only similarity is that they carry a radio and wear some sort of uniform.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:34 am
ok you could hardly look at those folks and mistake them for police. I believe the problem with perception lies with them. They think they are some type of authoitiiiii. It’s right funny.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:03 am
The courtesy parking warning in Ybor City was initiated by the YCDC (Ybor City Development Corp) and the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce as an incentive to leave a positive feeling of Ybor City with patrons as they leave. Nothing sucks more than to have a great time in Ybor City then get back to your car and get a parking ticket. Not the warm and fuzzy feeling YCDC and the Chamber want people to leave with!! The warning is supposed to be given if you have not received a parking ticket in the last year in Ybor City. The parking Nazis walk around with little hand held computers, feed your tag number into it and if you have been “good” for the last year, then you get the warning; otherwise you get a ticket for I think $30.00.
My backyard has a clear view of the lot Brett spoke of. I have watched this dweb of a parking Nazi sits in his little white City of Tampa Parking Enforcement car and wait for someone to park. After they walk away, the parking Nazi drives over to their spot and gets out checks to see if they paid. If not, ticket or warning time. The parking enforcement folks take their job very seriously and are zealots. They remind me of Barney Fife but they ARE NOT cops. Just wanna be. Rooster Tom (my other half) and I have sat on our back patio, watched people get out and walk away from their car, no money in the meter……JAWS THEME HERE…… the parking Nazi is on his way, slinking over to write a ticket. We then run across the yard and railroad tracks, put money in the meter and successfully have just pissed off parking meter joe!!!! Hey….what fun!! Ybor City IS an entertainment district after all. We’re just entertaining ourselves for pete’s sake.
Hear ye, hear ye!! PARKING IS FREE ON SUNDAYS!!!!!!
Agree with Mr. Bill on Acropolis!! Grape Salad is my fav and the Tirosalata (feta dip with pita points) is awesome. Not a big fan of most Greek food but Acropolis is a true dining experience. At night, belly dancers, band, waiters breaking plates on the floor in celebration, throwing napkins in the air and wonderful food. VERY festive place. Open for lunch too but obviously a lot more tame.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:49 am
the not-enough-to-do meter maids of ybor are just an example of how tampa consistently sabotages itself in the need to make a people friendly environment for entertainment. if ybor was actually popular, then it might make sense to enforce meters. but dead or dying as it is makes no sense at all. neither does letting cars zoom up and down 7th ave which should be a pedestrian mall. this city is so backwards about some things….
February 13th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Dreaming, I’ll disagree about the 7th Ave. thing. I appreciate the fact that you can now drive it, and even park in front of a business to go inside. Zooming is another problem altogether, but I do like being able to just zip into a free spot during the day for a bit to get some business done. Those spots are mostly 2 free hours during the week.
Hate. That. Parking. Guy.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
Ah-ha that is it I was parked on ninth ave behind centro when I got the warning. Reallydoes anybody know what happens when the city stops enforcing parking meters? Really I mean it, do people just camp their cars out there for days or do folks come and go like normal. I have never really understood the need for meters, can they really be collecting enough to pay for the parking enforcement department?
February 15th, 2007 at 10:12 am
A nice Tampa? Heh, I lived here on and off for 30 years and even comparing it to a busy and determined New York, New York this city is pretty mean most of the time…well only if you are buying a condo. Have you ever dealt with our council people? The Hospitals? Or the sneering folks rolling about in South Tampa thinking thier hoods are some original al la carte hood, the best in the American universe?
You just had a good day, big deal dood. I get them too especially when I go to Housewife bakery on a hungry-sweet day or just look up to see clouds during a killer sunset.
Oh and for parking in downtown, if you are north of Kennedy in the late afternoon/evening (after 5) you are screwed; have to pay or you will get a ticket. If you are south of Kennedy you can park for free after 5…I guess it is a South Tampa thing.
February 15th, 2007 at 10:14 am
A nice Tampa? Heh, I lived here on and off for 30 years and even comparing it to a busy and determined New York, New York this city is pretty mean most of the time…well only if you are NOT buying a condo. Have you ever dealt with our council people? The Hospitals? Or the sneering folks rolling about in South Tampa thinking thier hoods are some original al la carte hood, the best in the American universe?
You just had a good day, big deal dood. I get them too especially when I go to Housewife bakery on a hungry-sweet day or just look up to see clouds during a killer sunset.
Oh and for parking in downtown, if you are north of Kennedy in the late afternoon/evening (after 5) you are screwed; have to pay or you will get a ticket. If you are south of Kennedy you can park for free after 5…I guess it is a South Tampa thing.
March 21st, 2007 at 6:14 pm
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