New York, NY – A City Councilman has a proposal that might turn the swollen feet, achy back and raging indigestion of a difficult pregnancy into a pretty sweet perk: free parking.
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“New York is a tough place to get around,” said Councilman David Greenfield (D-Brooklyn). “If you have a difficult pregnancy, it’s even tougher. This should make it a little bit easier.”
The councilman plans to introduce legislation next week that would grant special parking placards to pregnant women whose doctors say they have physical or mobility challenges.
The women could then park for free in no-parking or no-standing zones until 30 days after their expected due dates – a cushion of time for those whose deliveries come later than expected – or who need to recover from childbirth complications.
“If I’m on a train and a pregnant woman walks in, I stand up and offer her my seat,” Greenfield said. “I consider this legislation to be the same thing – standing up on the City Council for women who have difficult pregnancies.”
He decided to introduce the bill after watching his wife struggle through two tough pregnancies. It’s similar to laws on the books in at least two states – Georgia and Oklahoma – according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Some women cheered the news as a welcome salve for the lumbering woes of late pregnancy. “Being eight or nine months pregnant is hard anyway, so this is a good benefit,” said 29-year-old expectant mom Asma Lat of the upper West Side.
But critics warn that the bill could further entangle the city’s mess of parking laws – or even contribute to discrimination against expectant mothers. “Parking privileges for women experiencing difficult pregnancies is a thoughtful idea,” said Sonia Ossorio of the National Organization for Women in New York City. “But I don’t want to see a short-term privilege like easy parking … create an environment that further stigmatizes pregnancy.”
Workplace discrimination against pregnant women is on the rise already, Ossorio said, and if women say they need special parking spots, it could feed the perception that they’re weak. “A lot of bosses just don’t think you’ll be as dedicated, that you’re as nimble or fast, mentally or physically,” Ossorio said. “You see women’s career paths completely take a wrong turn as a result of getting pregnant and becoming mothers.”
Paul Steely White of the transit advocacy group Transportation Alternatives said the city already has too many special parking permits – and too many people abusing the system with fake placards and scams. “This would create another group entitled to park on curbs where there is no room already,” White said. “Until we have effective enforcement, additional carveouts are only going to create more problems.”
The bill would not grant pregnant women the right to park in handicapped spaces in parking lots or give them the right that people with permanent disabilities have to park all day without feeding the meter. “Pregnancy is not a disability,” Greenfield said. “It’s a temporary condition … This is the city providing a common courtesy.”
As a mom who went through multiple difficult pregnancies I must say I do not support this legislation. First, it creates a preference for a particular disability which is unconstitutional. Why not create special rules for all disabilitating conditions? Second, Arent the no standing spots there for a reason?
How about giving the same to every lady or man with vericose veins?
There is no reason for the city to provide common courtesy. The city has long become at war with it’s citizens and thrown courtesy out the door. If Greenfeld wants to change that there are many other proposals I have for him.
what about special parking permitsfor obese men ? I’Ts difficult for them to get around !
Another example of an elected official pandering to his constituents. I’m sure that Mr Greenfield knows that you can’t provide such a benefit to only one group of people. What about those recovering from surgery and those with temporary disabilities? Would Greenfield fund additional staff to issue and monitor these permits?
Let go to boro park and Williamsburg and see if that makes matter better, or “worse”……
HOW ABOUT IF MY WIFE IS PREGNANT THAN I AM AN EXPECTANT FATHER??
WHERE IS MY PARKING SPACE?
I don’t think it’s fair because then chassidem will have free parking all year long!
When I was pregnant, I couldn’t fit behind the wheel of the car, so I don’t understand how this legislation would help “pregnant drivers”. I agree with poster #1 – it’s granting a privilege for a specific segment of the population. Technically, it’s for women with difficult pregnancies, not for every pregnant woman. When I had a complication in one of my pregnancies, I was on bed-rest (as are many other women with complications), so again, how would this help if the woman isn’t supposed to be up & about?
This may work at Babies R US but won’t work in the real world of NYC. Greenfield is just seeking headlines. I’m all for tougher enforcement and penalties for Handicap violations.
What a waste of time by an elected official.
Fix the regular parking rules first then you won’t need all these special new laws.
Sorry to hear your wife is going through a difficult pregnancy, give us her name and we will say tehilim.
It’s nice that he’s advocating for some of his constituents, but he needs to look at the big picture, and the outcome of such legislation. Frankly, I think it’s a foolish idea.
If this law goes thru. It means no more parking rules in boro park. All spots will be full of pregnant woman or their husbands parked at meter spots etc. Cuz 90% of boro park is pregnant.
First work on taking off the islands on fort hamilton and then fix the current laws & when you are finished with all the other problems around town then you should get to your current narishkeit
I would just like to clarify to people that most other conditions, even, those suffering from varicose veins as well as obesity can all go through the proper channels (Dr referral, application process, etc…) to apply for handicap placards. In fact, a woman with complications in pregnancy who is still permitted to be out and about may be able to get a “temporary” placard. However, in general, because pregnancy does not typically cause a “medical” hardship – it can not receive handicap placards and therefore – I do not think this is discriminatory. Anyone who goes through the proper channels and applies for a handicap placard may very well get one for any “medical” condition. Why is a woman whose pregnancy comes with “medical” hardship not be included. He is not suggesting this will become a fixture for all pregnant women, but maybe those who have excessive hardship and medical issues due to pregnancy…
What non sense these politicians come up with.
how about just working on creating more parking spaces? How about moving pumps on the Avenues from in middle the street into bus stops? How about making bus stops areas shorter? How about going after all those illegal driveways in your district?
Stop trying to make headlines and pull up your sleeves and get to work for the people that voted you into office.
what is up with all of you? what’s wrong with showing extra consideration to very pregnant women? this is a good idea that is long over due.
I think that Councilman Greenfield should legislate etiquette classes for all men – that way when pregnant women are on the subway, they’ll have their choice of seats because all the men will get up to offer their seats instead of looking the other way (“if I can’t see the pregnant woman, she doesn’t exist”)
Greenfeld offering prize for next chinese auction in Boro Park.” Get pregnant and he will give you a free parking space”. Thanks David
how will the lady prove it
Great idea! In light of this great proposal police officer should carry EPT tests in addition to breathalizers! Who cares about handicapped people (i.e., ones with no legs), pregnant women (a self inflicted (usually) condition) should be entitled to free parking! Genius! Just curios is Mr. Greenfield’s wife expecting?
Opinions are generally predicated on a person’s emotional feelings, even when that person backs it with a logical argument. Seeing the obvious lack of logical argument, it behooves me to understand what emotions create such passionate hatred for a law that would give reprieve for a pregnant women with complications. if someone could enlighten me, I would be very appreciative.
As a cancer survivor I hope the next bill would be to grand chemo therapy and radiation patients as well as people recovering from surgery free parking
I wonder what else greenfield will come up on his mission to get in the news
All I hope is that one of those press reelses will bring some good to the people of boro park to whom greenfield has yet to deliver anything
How about giving this priviledge to people with cancer.
So now women will walk around with an extra pillow they can shtoop into their bloomers to look pregnant in order to get free parking.
Wow I can imagine in Willi all those Signs being Spray Painted, cause the Pic of preg. Lady on it!
2) First clean up all the Ice from the Streets that Pregnant Women shouldn’t fall C”V
3) Second what is cheaper, meter tickets, parking tickets or being pregnant every year, to save on parking, lol