Councilman Revives Plan To Allow For Parking Privileges For Pregnant Women
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Some New York City Council members on Thursday were proposing a special parking pass for certain pregnant women.
As CBS2's Sonia Rincon reported, many parking lots – such as the one for the Babies 'R' Us in Brooklyn – have designated spaces for expectant mothers. But New York City streets are not as accommodating.
Brooklyn City Councilman David Greenfield (D-44th) said the streets should have special accommodations for women with problematic pregnancies. He has proposed a bill that would give them a special placard.
"If a doctor certifies that you have a difficult pregnancy, within 30 days, the (Department of Transportation) would issue a permit, and that permit would expire 30 days after your due date, and that would allow you to park in, for example, a no-parking zone, or at a meter without paying the meter," Greenfield said.
The parking placard would also mean no ticket in a commercial zone. There are many such zones in Midtown.
It would not allow drivers to at fire hydrants or at bus stops.
Greenfield made the same proposal four years ago, and it failed. But he said the city was more revenue-driven at that time.
Now, there is different leadership.
"And if we lose a few bucks to allow women with difficult pregnancies to make their lives a little bit easier, I think it's worthwhile," Greenfield said.
Some pregnant women and moms told CBS2 they agree.
"Because when you are pregnant, you need to be close to the store, right? Not walking," said Joanna Kunicka.
"That's going to be wonderful -- really easy, really helpful," said Gina Tobaly.
"It's only for a couple of months, and then you give birth and then just go back to normal like everybody else," said Junida Naci, who is pregnant.
The National Organization for Women says while it's important not to stigmatize pregnancy as something that makes women less capable, a lot of people already do get parking placards.
"If we wanted to extend it for the small percentage of women who are having very serious complications in their pregnancy who need to get to work in a city like New York where it's very difficult to maneuver, I don't think that's unreasonable," said NOW New York City President Sonia Ossorio.
Critics last time warned such a provision could create problems if people abused the system with fake placards.
