The number one complaint I get about Hartford is hands down, parking.    People tell me parking is often confusing or expensive or both.  

On this Sunday’s “Face the State,” we talk with the CEO of the Hartford Parking Authority, Mark McGovern.     We talk about the parking rates, the best place to park, whether the city will build another garage, and if the city will add meters to streets where parking is now banned. 

Also, McGovern will discuss my pet peeve,  that is shared by many of you, some of whom first brought it to my attention.   That is…the red bags over the meters that suddenly transform a perfectly good parking  spot into a tow zone.   I can’t tell you how many merchants have told me how detrimental this is to their businesses becaused it forces customers into garages or lots where they sometimes have to pay big bucks.    Many of you have complained to me that the red bags are often left there for an entire day or more.   I blogged about this last year: http://dennishouse.wordpress.com/2010/12/09/mindboggling-parking-policies-hurting-hartford/

During previous editions of Face the State, HPD Chief Daryl K. Roberts and Mayor Pedro Segarra blamed the bagging on the parking authority.    We’ll hear what Mark McGovern has to say about it, and you may be surprised.
Tune in this Sunday at 11 AM for Face the State on Channel 3.