Mayor says airport board members should pay for parking too

TAMPA - Unless you are in and out in less than an hour, parking at Tampa International Airport will cost you $3.

Except for those on the Aviation Authority Board.

"It's done at all airports as I understand it," said board chairman Al Austin.

A St. Petersburg Times article pointed out board members, who do not get paid for serving, can park free at the airport all the time. Highlighted in the report is board member Dr. Joseph Diaco. The Times says while on vacation he parked for almost a month in the short term garage. It would have cost the average person $560.

Diaco used the hearing to voice his displeasure with the report, calling it character assassination.

"Shame on you. I think it's a very distorted, class warfare type article," said Dr. Diaco.

But that wasn't the end of the discussion. Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio quickly fired back.

"We serve the public. And I'm very uncomfortable sitting on a board where we devote some time to being critical of newspaper articles. That's the check and balance in our system," said Iorio.

The mayor says the free parking should only be used for board meetings and official airport business.

"I think we you park here for personal use you ought to pay for it yourself. That's just the way it ought to be," said Iorio.

The Mayor says she didn't intend to comment on the matter. But she didn't like the tone of the board members. Diaco, who was the Bucs team doctor, doesn't plan on responding to the article other than sending a letter to the editor.

Thursday's vote means the first hour of parking in the short term lot is still free at TIA. But only if you are in and out in less than 75 minutes. If you are at the airport longer, that first hour will now cost you $3.