Making Philadelphia’s parking ticket writers kinder and gentler

Workers at the Philadelphia Parking Authority are getting some hospitality training. The goal is to turn hated parking ticket writers into city ambassadors.

The Parking Authority board has approved a partnership with the Convention and Visitors Bureau to come up with online courses to help train their staff, including enforcement officers and taxi drivers to be pleasant when they interact with residents and tourists alike. Sue Cornell is Senior Director of Administration for the Parking Authority.

“I think it’s better for everyone it’s better for us it’s better for the public it just makes everybody’s lives better and happier,” said Cornell. “There’s no need to have hostile interactions, we’re just hoping to make everything on a little lighter, friendlier level.”

Cornell says she knows her staff members aren’t the most loved people in Philadelphia.

“We have a big presence of our parking enforcement officers on the street. A lot of times they are already asked for directions, where to go,” she said. “This will just give them proper training on how to answer all those questions.”

When the training will start still hasn’t been worked out.