The UN talks parking tickets
Yes, it just has. (Insert metaphor involving a city aflame and the playing of a stringed instrument here)
"The Committee on Relations with the Host Country today considered, among other things, an alleged increase in the number of parking tickets issued to diplomatic vehicles and special airport screening procedures for some diplomats".
And some choice quotes:
"The representative of France said his country’s Mission had been receiving more tickets because the driver picking up the Permanent Representative at his Park Avenue residence often had to wait “a couple of minutes”, with the motor running, in a traffic lane next to parked cars. Since other Missions had also seen an increase in the number of tickets issued, the matter could be viewed as a form of harassment. A possible solution would be to establish diplomatic parking spaces close to the residence of Permanent Representatives".
And there's more:
"the representative of Cyprus said her Permanent Representative also lived on Park Avenue and the tickets were often issued by the same officer, who seemed to wait for the moment when the diplomatic car pulled up to the residence. The officer refused to talk to the driver or listen to any explanation, a form of treatment that was “inappropriate”.
Is your heart bleeding yet?
"Also raising complaints were the representatives of Bulgaria and Mongolia, who questioned the legality of mailing the tickets to their respective Permanent Missions, noting that the practice particularly hampered the functioning of small Missions".
And an unexpected outbreak of worldliness:
"The representative of the Russian Federation added that, according to local media, the problem did not concern diplomats alone, but the entire population of New York City."
Couldn't be the New York Post, could it?
And the pay off:
"In his response, the representative of the United States cautioned delegates against placing too much credibility in certain newspapers, and categorically rejected claims that officers were issuing more tickets in order to generate income for the city. The New York City Commissioner for the United Nations, Consular Corps and Protocol had assured the United States Mission that the matter would be examined carefully".
If their minds were not addled from overdoing it on the Ferrero Rochers, maybe the diplomats would have the sense to move elsewhere and / or hire taxis....
And some choice quotes:
"The representative of France said his country’s Mission had been receiving more tickets because the driver picking up the Permanent Representative at his Park Avenue residence often had to wait “a couple of minutes”, with the motor running, in a traffic lane next to parked cars. Since other Missions had also seen an increase in the number of tickets issued, the matter could be viewed as a form of harassment. A possible solution would be to establish diplomatic parking spaces close to the residence of Permanent Representatives".
And there's more:
"the representative of Cyprus said her Permanent Representative also lived on Park Avenue and the tickets were often issued by the same officer, who seemed to wait for the moment when the diplomatic car pulled up to the residence. The officer refused to talk to the driver or listen to any explanation, a form of treatment that was “inappropriate”.
Is your heart bleeding yet?
"Also raising complaints were the representatives of Bulgaria and Mongolia, who questioned the legality of mailing the tickets to their respective Permanent Missions, noting that the practice particularly hampered the functioning of small Missions".
And an unexpected outbreak of worldliness:
"The representative of the Russian Federation added that, according to local media, the problem did not concern diplomats alone, but the entire population of New York City."
Couldn't be the New York Post, could it?
And the pay off:
"In his response, the representative of the United States cautioned delegates against placing too much credibility in certain newspapers, and categorically rejected claims that officers were issuing more tickets in order to generate income for the city. The New York City Commissioner for the United Nations, Consular Corps and Protocol had assured the United States Mission that the matter would be examined carefully".
If their minds were not addled from overdoing it on the Ferrero Rochers, maybe the diplomats would have the sense to move elsewhere and / or hire taxis....
Labels: Common sense? What's that?, United Nations
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on Friday, March 13, 2009 at 4:32 pm.
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