Skip to Content
Streetsblog California home
Streetsblog California home
Log In
Damien Talks

#DamienTalks 35 – Mike Gatto and Parking Placard Reform

Parking placard abuse.

#DamienTalks

Arguing for reforms in the placard system is one of the few times parking reformers don't sound overly wonky to the larger car driving public. In California, one out of every eight drivers has a disabled parking placard, a number which doesn't correlate to data concerning how many drivers SHOULD have such a placard.

This abuse of the placard system creates a ripple effect of unsafe street conditions, a distorted view of our car parking stock, and worst of all undercuts the value of the placard to those drivers who are actually disabled.

Today #DamienTalks with Assemblymember Mike Gatto (D-SFV) about AB 2602, his legislation that seeks to reduce placard abuse through two common sense reforms attacking the supply of and demand for disabled placards to those who don't really need them. Gatto's legislation sailed through committee last week.

Also moving in the Assembly is Gatto's "Parking Bill of Rights" which takes a broader look at parking issues.

We’re always looking for sponsors, show ideas, and feedback. You can contact me at damien@streetsblog.org, at twitter @damientypes, online at Streetsblog California or on Facebook at StreetsblogCA. Or, if you want to reach Asm. Gatto, he can be reached at twitter @mikegatto or at his webpage, MikeGatto.com

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog California

The Week in Short Videos

Transit ambassadors, a Waymo crash, and High-Speed Rail.

Friday’s Headlines

A stack of mostly good news heading into the weekend or. Alternate headline: let's hope I don't get sunstroke.

March 6, 2026

Dedication: Crenshaw and Slauson to Forever be Known as “Nipsey Hussle Square”

“Age fourteen on up, my whole life took place on these four corners...This really was my foundation," Hussle told Current TV back in 2010. Now renamed in his honor, they pay tribute to how he transformed them.

March 5, 2026

Measure HLA at Two Years: a Timeline of How L.A. City has Resisted Safer Multimodal Streets

With just 300 feet of HLA upgrades in two years, L.A. City's main effort has been to actively block HLA progress.

March 5, 2026

StreetSmart 14.2 – The Governor’s Race and High Speed Rail

Yesterday was the legislature. Today is the Governor's Race and High-Speed Rail.

March 5, 2026

Thursday’s Headlines

While it's certainly good news that a dangerous intersection is being fixed, how did it take so long for something called "Friante Roulette" to be prioritized?

March 5, 2026
See all posts