ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, Chicago's retail establishments and restaurants have endured great economic hardship over the previous year and a half due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with many businesses suffering dramatic reductions in customer traffic; and
WHEREAS, In addition to providing financial assistance to struggling businesses, the City of Chicago has modified many of its business regulations at little or no cost to the taxpayers, such as allowing year-round sidewalk cafes and expanded outdoor dining, to assist businesses in attracting more customers, which makes it easier for businesses to survive in these difficult economic times; and
WHEREAS, The City Council recently enacted the "Chi Biz Strong Initiative," a wide-ranging business relief package that provided much-needed financial assistance to thousands of businesses and cut red tape across numerous City processes, all in recognition of the fact that local businesses need help in order to succeed; and
WHEREAS, Safe and convenient off-street parking is an important amenity for many businesses, including restaurants, fast food establishments, convenience stores, laundromats, and the like, who depend for their success on customers who travel to their business in automobiles; and
WHEREAS, These businesses suffer great financial harm when their off-street parking lots are occupied by vehicles belonging to non-customers and other unauthorized users, depriving paying customers of the ability to park at their businesses and sending those customers elsewhere; and
WHEREAS, because the financial viability of these businesses depends on maintaining the accessibility of their parking lots, many of them have availed themselves of parking management services which attach a "boot" to illegally parked vehicles; and
WHEREAS, Many businesses find the booting service far preferable to towing companies because the property owner is not required to monitor his or her parking lot and call a towing company, which may not arrive until afte...
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