Free parking for pregnant women? Don't be naive!
January 24th 2011 02:49
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Vyoos news
There are times when my naivete steps up and smacks me across the bridge of the nose.
Here I was nodding in agreement with the words of a New York City Councilman named David Greenfield who supports a proposal that pregnant women be granted the freedom to park anywhere for the duration of their pregnancy and another 30 days after giving birth.
"New York is a tough place to get around. A difficult pregnancy makes it tougher. This should make it a little bit easier," he added.
I nodded.
But then I read the words of several experts who pointed out the shortcomings of the plan.
Take Sonia Ossorio, who is executive director of the National Organization For Women. "Parking privileges for women experiencing difficult pregnancies is a thoughtful idea," Ossorio allowed. However, "I don't want to see a short-term privilege like easy parking create an environment that further stigmatizes pregnancy," she said. "Workplace discrimination against pregnant women is on the rise already, and if women say they need special parking spots, it could feed the perception that they're weak."
Why didn't I think of that?
Paul Steely White, of the transit advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, was another to shed expert light on an issue obviously more complex than I at first understood.
"The city already has too many special parking permits - and too many people abusing the system with fake placards and scams," White said. "This would create another group entitled to park on curbs where there is no room already."
I really hadn't thought about the people abusing the system with false placards and scams. I'm so grateful we have all these experts to rely on.
The free parking plan for pregnant women will be introduced to New York City Council next week. It sounds a good idea - you know, based on common sense and caring and stuff - but what would I know?
Sadly, there are other nave people around still running with the original idea. "Being eight or nine months pregnant is hard, so this is a good benefit," said 29-year-old New Yorker Asma Lat.
Asma needs to read the rest of this report. Looking at the free parking plan in such simple terms would never win cred in the National Organization for Women.
Apart from being pregnant, what would she know?
www.nydailynews.com
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