Tag Archives: COVID-19

Talking About COVID-19

covid-19 illustration of the virusBy Casey Jones, CAPP

Our industry hasn’t faced anything like the COVID-19 virus before and it’s affecting the way we all work and live outside of work. Working from home, not being able to work from home, refund requests, health concerns for our employees, growing or shrinking parking use depending on our sectors—the challenges keep coming.

IPMI will host two sector-specific, online Shoptalks for industry members to talk about COVID-19 and their operations, share ideas, ask questions, and brainstorm—and just connect with each other:
  • Tuesday, March 24, 12:00 p.m. Eastern. Online Shoptalk for Municipalities & Transportation Providers: COVID-19 and Our Industry’s Response.
  • Tuesday, March 24, 2:00 p.m. Eastern. Online Shoptalk for Universities and Campuses: COVID-19 and Our Industry’s Response.
Please join me for these free events—advance registration required. Click here to register and I’ll look forward to talking with you Tuesday.
Casey Jones, CAPP, is senior parking & mobility planner with DESMAN. He will moderate IPMI’s free online Shoptalks about COVID-19 and our industry on Tuesday, March 24.

Member News: PENN PARKING joins fight against COVID-19

Employees are creating protective face shields for hospitals in Maryland

Penn Parking CEO Lisa Renshaw is excited to announce that her company is now joining the fight against Coronavirus by creating protective face shields for healthcare workers in the state of Maryland.

“We are on a mission to get our health care workers and first responders the vital equipment they need to keep them and the public safe,” said Renshaw. “We all need to pull together in this crisis.”

There have been reports of demands for the masks all over the country, and is likely to continue if demand exceeds available supplies. These shields will provide greater protection when used in conjunction with the masks.  Renshaw listened to the needs of the community, and quickly made the decision to find out what materials were needed to create the masks, and then asked her employees to begin making them last week.

“All of my employees simply asked – what can we do?” Renshaw explained. “We are challenging that other businesses follow us to lend support however they can.”

The masks will be going to hospitals in Maryland, and wherever else they are needed. “This time of uncertainly presses on everyone – the young and elderly. But it is a great unifier for our country – spanning from business to government, for everyone to get involved and step up. This is our way to shine some light in these difficult times,” Renshaw concluded.

According to the CDC, there are over 700 cases of COVID-19 in Maryland with several known deaths. In the U.S., all 50 states plus the District of Columbia have cases of COVID-19, tallying over 70,000 illnesses and over 1,000 deaths. Sadly, these numbers are expected to increase in the weeks ahead. As of this week the virus has infected nearly 500,000 people across 175 countries and territories, resulting in over 20,000 deaths.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a respiratory virus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019. Worldwide, COVID-19 has resulted in scores of infections, and have caused thousands of deaths. Cases continue to spread throughout the world, with more cases reported daily.

Penn Parking is a leading parking management business with locations in Maryland, DC and Virginia. For more information call 443-790-6633.

Member News: LAZ Parking Implements measures in reaction to impact of COVID-19

Establishes Employee Relief Fund to Support Temporarily Displaced Employees

Hartford, CT – Alan Lazowski, Chief Executive Officer of LAZ Parking, underscored his company’s commitment today to protecting customers, clients and employees impacted by the evolving threat of COVID-19, or Coronavirus.

In a separate letter, Lazowski assured employees that the LAZ senior leadership response team is monitoring the unfolding situation, tracking developments, and taking all recommended measures to keep everyone safe.

“The health and safety of our customers, clients, and employees across our 3,100 locations and 423 cities is, and always will be, our highest priority,” Lazowski said. “As this situation continues to unfold, we will closely monitor and take guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as state and local health officials around the country.”

LAZ is also responding to the significant downturn across all aspects of the economy impacting  the industries that LAZ serves, including stadiums, entertainment venues, restaurants, office buildings, hotels, airports, and universities. During these unprecedented times LAZ and its dedicated team of leaders throughout the nation are working tirelessly 24/7 to protect as many jobs as they can and the long-term future of the company.

LAZ has also notified its employees that a percentage of its workforce will be temporarily reduced at this time with the intention of being rehired once the crisis subsides and business rebounds.

“It is going to take difficult sacrifices and federal government intervention to bridge the financial gap created by this pandemic and help our nation’s workforce receive higher unemployment benefits during this crisis,” added Lazowski. “We have been and will continue to be in contact with the highest levels in government in order to advocate for our people, our company and members of the entire parking industry. We are asking that the federal government provide relief to the parking industry and our temporarily reduced workforce and pay as close to 100% of employees’ wages during the layoff period. We are optimistic that the federal government will do the right thing.”

LAZ’ founding partners will not take any pay for at least the next 90 days and have established a $1,000,000 Employee Relief Fund, where furloughed team members can apply for financial grants.  There will be no expectation of grant repayment and the money.

Since 1981, LAZ has navigated many business challenges in times of extreme volatility. The company wants to assure the public that the Spirit of LAZ, rooted in its “Never Ever Give Up” attitude, has never been stronger!

 

About LAZ Parking

LAZ Parking founded in Hartford, CT in 1981, is one of the largest and fastest-growing parking companies in the United States, operating over 1.2 million parking spaces across the country in over 3,155 locations in 35 states and 423 cities. With over 38 years of experience providing parking management, transportation and mobility services, LAZ works seamlessly across a variety of market segments, including hospitality and valet, office buildings, medical, airport and transportation, campus, government and municipal, retail, events, residential building and shuttle services. Additional information can be found at www.lazparking.com.

Good Deed: Municipality Converts Meters to Curbside Pickup Spaces

IPMI Blog post March 17 2020To support businesses in town, the Lexington, Ky., Parking Authority launched an effort to convert several paid parking spaces into curbside pickup-only spaces, for use by people picking up food and items from restaurants and merchants.

“While supplies last, the LPA will make every effort to create these opportunities for some level of business to continue under these current circumstances,” said Gary A. Means, CAPP, executive director of the authority.

Pickup-only spaces have had their meters covered with a blue LPA bag. Merchants can request spaces near their businesses be converted by emailing or calling the authority.

Is your parking organization doing something similar? Please let us know.