Residents near the new Braves stadium are complaining about the park’s monopoly on paid parking:

Beloin said they had planned substantial investment in the property because of SunTrust Park’s opening next year — they’d need fencing, walls, and some combination of security gates and guards for the parking lot. The attorney had hoped to earn back a portion of that money by charging fans for use of their 100-space parking lot on some game days.

But Cobb County shut down that idea, when commissioners in February quietly passed an ordinance that outlaws property owners within a half-mile of the stadium from charging for parking during games and other special events at the stadium. SunTrust Park is partially funded with $400 million from Cobb taxpayers.

“This irks the (heck) out of me,” said Beloin, who has previously tangled with the county over zoning around the stadium, and was unaware of the ordinance until told about it by an Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter. “They say they’re increasing my property value and then they do everything in their power to make sure I get no benefit out of it.”

Your government at work!

I’ve notice something in my town, where high school groups will do a bake sale or a car wash, but they don’t charge for the goods or services. Instead, they accept donations. I suspect this is due to having to charge sales tax if they actually priced the goods. That why they call it Taxachusetts. I suggest the owners of these lots set up a charity to help someone, but pay 80% of the money back to themselves for administration. Or, just provide free parking to really screw the Braves.