Councilman goes after illegal parking lots

Says the city is losing tax revenue and legal businesses are getting undercut.

A Philadelphia City Councilman says there is a booming illegal parking business in Philadelphia.

Councilman Jim Kenney says a report by the Philadelphia Parking Association shows there are an estimated 400 illegal parking facilities in the city and that means the city isn’t receiving its fair share of taxes and it’s hurting the lots that follow the rules.

“For every space, for every dollar that is taken in for every monthly parking permit that is sold the city is getting nothing, these guys are paying 20 percent parking tax, they don’t like it but they are doing it and the guy down the street, around the corner is in competition with them? “

Currently the department of Licenses and Inspections oversees parking lots in the city, the councilman says maybe the responsibility should be turned over to the ever vigilant parking authority. Kenney says parking workers are constantly on the streets and could spot new operations quickly.