They call their mission "The Cause." And they say it's critical to solving Michigan's woes. Fortunately, though, the solution they have in mind is a simple one, and their name should make it obvious: "Michigan Needs More Parking."
This group has taken to the pages of Facebook and the local media to share their vision for a revitalized state finally relieved of its burdensome parking problem.
"Detroit -- and Michigan’s -- unemployment crisis will only be addressed when we close the parking gap. More parking equals more jobs," the group's Chene Park told Model D media last month. "Parking now or poverty later. It’s really that simple."
Michigan Needs More Parking says the situation is not hopeless, however. They have proposed a series of reforms they say will put the state back on track to financial health. For instance, they re-envision Mackinac Island, the state's beloved car-free tourist destination, as "series of surface parking lots and decks" connected to the mainland by a causeway.
And in 2014, they're planning a voter referendum to "defend the right of parking for every man, woman and child," by enshrining it in the state constitution.
"Remember: we’re never more than one generation away from the end of parking freedom in America," Park says.
If it all sounds a bit frightening, the really scary thing is that the message from "Michigan Needs More Parking" isn't all that different than what people in real positions of influence are saying.
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