Airport Authority Ends Handicap Discount Parking; Politicians Still Park For Free

The Indianapolis Airport Authority announced yesterday that it would end its discount parking for handicap persons. Instead of paying $9 a day to park in the parking garage adjacent to the terminal, they will now be charged $18 a day. Airport officials decided the $280,000 the discounted parking cost the authority annually was more than its troubled budget could handle. "The airport board began discounting parking at the old garage and terminal building because they were short on spaces or other amenities for travelers with physical disabilities," writes Bruce Smith of the Star. His story makes no mention of the special discount for state and local officials. Statewide officers, state legislators, mayors and councilors park at the airport for free. I wonder if the Airport Authority has done a study to find out how much that perk is costing the airport annually in lost revenues. Better yet, the airport authority should slash the outrageous six-figure pay and free travel its controversial head, John Clark, receives. Clark spent $37,000 on travel during his first year on the job. We learned that he drives a Porsche 911 after he was ticketed on a Florida interstate driving at 135 mph on his way to the Super Bowl in Miami.