The Parking Meter Fairy - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

wonderwench · 07-17-2004, 10:24 AM

I think all towns should have a Parking Meter Fairy.

Sadly, I have heard that in SF and Berkeley, it is considered illegal to add change to someone else's meter. Given the belligerence of the Parking Meter Drones in both cities, it wouldn't surprise me if it were true.

Linky-Link

Quote:

As the man in a pink curly wig, a lavender tutu and diaphanous angel wings skated along the streets of Miami's trendy Coconut Grove area, a woman sitting at a table asked him if he was a fairy of some sort.

"Yes," he replied, "I'm the parking meter fairy."

"Thank you," said a man at the same table, before giving the fairy a cigarette in appreciation for his kindness.

The fairy chatted briefly with them while taking a few puffs. Then he was off on his appointed rounds -- putting quarters in parking meters about to expire. As he was leaving, the man at the table said, "Long live the meter fairy."

Hired to skate around the Grove adding 15 minutes to a visitor's time at the curb, Xavier Cortes is a popular figure. He provides relief from the pesky parking tickets that threatened to discourage patrons from returning to restaurants and shops.

His job was created when a business owner in Coconut Grove grew tired of getting parking tickets for missing the meter by a minute or two. Cynthia Bettner, publisher of Best Tourist Publications Inc., advertised in the Miami New Times for a "colorful one-of-a-kind extrovert who looks good in tulle."

Bettner wasn't necessarily looking for a male fairy, just someone who could skate and would not be afraid to dress like a fairy.

Cortes found the job interesting enough to call.

"At first I thought it was almost humorous, like something with good intention that I would want to be a part of," he said.

When Cortes answered the ad, however, he first wanted to make sure it wasn't a joke. Convinced that it wasn't, he applied.

"Xavier was perfect. He's an artist, someone who likes to be dressed in this bizarre outfit to help educate people about the parking tickets," Bettner said. "Tourists stop him."

Every time he works, a different merchant sponsors Cortes. Storeowners pay him $10 an hour for a five-hour day. He gets $40 in quarters and a $25 parking card for the parking meters.

People don't get a free ride. They simply get a chance to avoid getting a ticket.

The job comes naturally to Cortes, an artist with a theater background whose works have been featured in galleries, music album covers and local newspapers.

"I've done Che Guevara, who is a communist, so this is just another performance," Cortes said. "I'm out skating, and I'm getting paid for doing somebody a favor."

Visitors and locals are happy he's on the job, and many thank him for his work. Children look at him in awe.

"He's our favorite fairy," said Kathleen Brennan, a Grove resident.

But not everyone admires his work. On a recent day, while Cortes skated around the Grove, two teenage boys laughed at him. But this did not bother him.

"My dad was my biggest worry," Cortes said. "He knows where I stand in my sexuality."

Surprisingly, Cortes gets along with all the parking meter officers.

"Meter maids have been nothing but nice to me," he said. "I've had a secret fear that they'd be antagonistic."

Jill Swerdlow, a business owner who has sponsored Cortes more than once, said he is a goodwill ambassador.

"I'm a big fan," Swerdlow said. " I think it really captures what the Grove is about."

After saying hello, Cortes quickly moves on. With more meters to fill, he fixes his lavender tutu, makes sure his wings are on straight and waves goodbye as he skates away.

Munku · 07-17-2004, 10:27 AM

He's kind of cute..

Manic_Skafe · 07-17-2004, 10:38 AM

I saw that on an episode of Jackass once - great show - hilarious skit.

It's a shame it's illegal here too. You can give the person the quarters but they'll probably arrest you for putting the quarters in the meters.

And on that note I'm gonna go wash my eyes out with bleach.

wonderwench · 07-17-2004, 10:41 AM

It's pretty dang sad when doing a good deed is against the law.

I have occassionally paid the toll for the person behind me - and have enjoyed it when someone else treated me at the toll gate. Such gestures can make one's day.

Mondak · 07-17-2004, 11:09 AM

I do this on my own as often as I can. I pay special attension when I see a meter maid in the general vacinity. One asked me once as I was walking by and I fed a meter he was writing a ticket on if it was my car. I said "nope" and walked away. He tore up the ticket.

denim · 07-17-2004, 01:42 PM

I don't see why they'd make this kind of thing illegal... oh, wait, yes I do: revenue stream. son of a bitch.

Rodney · 07-17-2004, 01:53 PM

We had a guy like that here in Santa Cruz, a sidewalk performer/clown who went by the name of Mr. Twister. He'd feed expired meters for motorists who parked downtown. And yes, they did bust him for it. He got national attention, though, and there was even a "Free Mr. Twister" campaign around here. Eventually, the ordinance was repealed. (Mr. Twister himself is not my favorite person on earth, but that's beside the point.)

Here's a link to a rather funny site about the prosecution of Mr. Twister, put up by the lawyer who defended him in court.

http://www.benricelaw.com/twister/twister1.html

07-17-2004, 10:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
Manic_Skafe More Than You Expect Location: Queens	I saw that on an episode of Jackass once - great show - hilarious skit. It's a shame it's illegal here too. You can give the person the quarters but they'll probably arrest you for putting the quarters in the meters. And on that note I'm gonna go wash my eyes out with bleach. __________________ "Porn is a zoo of exotic animals that becomes boring upon ownership." -Nersesian

07-17-2004, 11:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
Mondak Industrialist Location: Southern California	I do this on my own as often as I can. I pay special attension when I see a meter maid in the general vacinity. One asked me once as I was walking by and I fed a meter he was writing a ticket on if it was my car. I said "nope" and walked away. He tore up the ticket. __________________ All truth passes through three stages: First it is ridiculed Second, it is violently opposed and Third, it is accepted as self-evident. ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER (1788-1860)

07-17-2004, 01:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	We had a guy like that here in Santa Cruz, a sidewalk performer/clown who went by the name of Mr. Twister. He'd feed expired meters for motorists who parked downtown. And yes, they did bust him for it. He got national attention, though, and there was even a "Free Mr. Twister" campaign around here. Eventually, the ordinance was repealed. (Mr. Twister himself is not my favorite person on earth, but that's beside the point.) Here's a link to a rather funny site about the prosecution of Mr. Twister, put up by the lawyer who defended him in court. http://www.benricelaw.com/twister/twister1.html Last edited by Rodney; 07-17-2004 at 01:56 PM..

07-17-2004, 10:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
Munku Lost Location: Florida	He's kind of cute..

07-17-2004, 10:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
wonderwench Banned	It's pretty dang sad when doing a good deed is against the law. I have occassionally paid the toll for the person behind me - and have enjoyed it when someone else treated me at the toll gate. Such gestures can make one's day.

07-17-2004, 01:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
denim Banned Location: Massachusetts, USA	I don't see why they'd make this kind of thing illegal... oh, wait, yes I do: revenue stream. son of a bitch.