Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Congestion Pricing

Has Time Run Out on the Parking Placard “Crackdown”?


Chinatown, December 2007: As good as it gets?


Early this year, Mayor Bloomberg's office announced across-the-board reductions in the number of government-issued parking placards that could be allotted to city employees. And while the city looks to be following through with the cuts -- to the chagrin of some among the entitled motoring class -- WNYC reports that Lower Manhattan is still flooded with illegally parked vehicles.

Despite new standardized placard designs and a highly publicized sweep against scofflaws in April, a recent tour of Chinatown by reporter Matthew Schuerman and Transportation Alternatives' Wiley Norvell found scores of cars sporting slapdash pseudo-permits, and very few of them bearing tickets. Norvell says that enforcement is still lax, but a spokesperson from the mayor's office told Schuerman that NYPD is doing a "very good job."

Did the Bloomberg "crackdown" on free parking for government employees expire with congestion pricing? 

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Meet Steve Fulop, Corporate New York’s New Mouthpiece

Streetsblog sat down with former Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop last week to discuss his new role at the Partnership for New York City.

February 4, 2026

Promising E-Bike Subsidy Pilot Is Denied Funding By State Agency

New York City's first e-bike subsidy program is stalled after not receiving state funding for implementation.

February 4, 2026

Wednesday’s Headlines: Nothingburger From The Albany Sausage Grinder Edition

OK, so the transportation hearing was a bust, but two groups questioned the governor's car insurance proposal, so that's a start. Plus other news.

February 4, 2026

Cyclists in Criminal Court Say Mamdani’s Bike Crackdown is a ‘Waste of Time’

The hearings reveal that the mayor's promise to end criminal summonsing against cyclists has not been kept.

February 3, 2026

‘Lowballing Victims’: Crash Survivors Furious At Hochul’s Car Insurance Proposal

Crash victims and a key state lawmaker are not yet sold on Hochul's car insurance scheme, and hope that the state listens.

February 3, 2026

Opinion: Transit Watchword Should Be Synergy, Not Scarcity

Two fantastic transit ideas — fast and free buses, and a 17-percent expansion of subway mileage — are being set up as adversaries. But they're complementary.

February 3, 2026
See all posts