Mayor Bloomberg yanked free parking spots from a handful of elected officials last year - but borough presidents, the city controller and other pols still enjoy the perk, the Daily News found.

Bloomberg ordered the crackdown after the Daily News reported exclusively last summer that four City Council members had signs outside their district offices reserving spaces for "Council Vehicles."

But city officials decided to leave in place nearly 200 spaces near City Hall and borough offices for borough presidents, the city controller and state officials like the governor and attorney general.

"We eliminated unnecessary parking privileges for elected officials' offices, retaining spaces only at municipal hubs that have a high number of employees conducting official business," Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan said in a statement.

The explanation didn't sit right with advocates who rail against the impact of cars on city streets.

"Frequently, the major government hubs are also major transit hubs," said Wiley Norvell of Transportation Alternatives, an advocacy group that's done studies showing city employees are more likely to drive to work than private employees.

"It's an indefensible perk for a preferred few."

[more at: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/01/26/2009-01-26_still_lots_of_parking_spots_for_big_shot.html]