MONKEY PARKING & SPOTPOG PART 1
Are these two Apps Halachically Warranted?
Let's read some promotional literature about the two...
Monkey Parking
"SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)- San Francisco drivers have long been frustrated spending countless minutes trying to find a parking space, but a new app called 'Monkey Parking' allows drivers to buy a spot from someone who's already in it.
On Chestnut Street in the Marina, you need a lot more than parking karma to find a spot. One woman driving around said it's a desperate situation and that drivers do what they have to do.
So here's how it works the driver of a car, already parked in a busy neighborhood, connects with someone using the app who is in that dire situation of needed a parking spot. The one searching for a spot shows up and pays up to $20 to take over their location.
'Monkey Parking' App Lets Drivers Desperate For Parking Pay Others For Their Space
this would lead to parking-space squatters. Others said 'bring it on'. One mom said she'd use Monkey Parking because with her kids, sometimes you need to be able to pop in and out of a space.
According to the city, there's half a million parking spots for a city of 750,000 people then the tens of thousands of visitors each day need to be factored in making for one hairy situation.
Others thought the $20 price tag would be a bit of a stretch considering that's what drivers pay for parking at a football game, arguing that $10 sounded more reasonable.
The City of San Francisco isn't sure if it's a good idea or even legal. The City Attorney's Office told the San Francisco Chronicle it is investigating whether MonkeyParking's business model of making a profit off public space is legal.
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency spokesman Paul Rose also told the Chronicle officials are also looking into concerns about the parking app."
"SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - San Francisco is putting the brakes on a mobile app that allows drivers to auction off their choice public parking spots to the highest bidder.
City Attorney Dennis Herrera Monday issued a cease-and-desist demand to Rome, Italy-based startup Monkey Parking and CEO Paolo Dobrowolny.
Herrera also sent a request to the legal department of Apple Inc. to immediately remove the mobile application from its App Store because Herrera said it violates Apple's own guidelines on legal requirements for apps.
The Monkey Parking app was launched in April and shortly after the city attorney's office said it would investigate whether the business model of profiting off a public space was legal.
In Monday's demand, Herrera cited a provision of San Francisco's police code "that specifically prohibits individuals and companies from buying, selling or leasing public on-street parking."
Herrara said if Monkey Parking continues to operate past July 11, it would face a lawsuit under California's strict Unfair Competition Law and civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation.
Drivers who use the app also face a $300 fine each time they use the app, Herrera said."
SPOTPOG
"SpotPog is a new way to help alleviate the parking challenge. Our innovative platform integrates public parking, private driveways, and commercial garages. We take the frustration out of parking by implementing efficiencies that reduce congestion, improve air quality, and directly aid local community-based organizations.
By working together with local civic associations, business groups, and elected officials, we're able to provide a win-win solution to drivers, businesses, residents, and our Community Partner organizations.
Find A Spot
* Open the app to find available spots.
* Use your Pogs to swap a free spot or send cash securely to a verified driveway owner using your SpotPog Wallet.
* Let the next driver know when you're leaving and receive a new Pog when you swap it again. Find out more about how to find a spot here.
Offer A Spot
* Open the app to offer a public spot you're leaving or list your driveway for a verified user to rent.
We're all about community. That's why we started SpotPog: to address the neighborhood issues related to parking and congestion.
So when we built our app, we wanted to come up with further ways to positively impact the areas in which we operate.
Our solution? Each time you rent your driveway, you can designate whether you want to receive the cash directly or have it donated to one of our local Community Partners. We're selecting charities and non-profits in each of our designated neighborhoods to receive these funds, with an emphasis on issues that directly affect the local area.
Community Partnerships
* If you're listing a driveway, you can choose whether you want to receive cash directly or donate the payment to one of our local Community Partners.
* Feel good knowing that you're making your community better by reducing congestion and pollution from drivers circling for parking. Find out more about how to list your driveway here.
Fund Your Account
* When you register for SpotPog your account will receive 1 Pog to start to use in areas with free public parking by trading with other users for these spots. Pogs cannot be bought or transferred, so to earn more Pogs you must offer your spot when you're leaving as well. You can also get more Pogs by participating in promotions like referring other users to SpotPog.
* To rent a driveway, add cash to your SpotPog Wallet using your credit or debit card. Then you can place bids on driveways and other private spots.
Not only can you offer a parking spot to a neighbor; you can also make an immediate impact in your community. To know whether the proceeds from a spot are going to one of our Community Partners, look for the yellow halo around the parking icon."