This week, making the rounds on social media are photos of a St. Louis city alderman's car parked in a handicapped spot -- with an "official business" sign visible. Being on official city business, of course, does not allow politicians to use spots reserved for the disabled, which is why some angry St. Louisans are passing the image around. Daily RFT did some digging, and it turns out the vehicle belongs to St. Louis Alderman Freeman Bosley Sr.
Reached for comment, Bosley immediately admits it and offers this explanation: His daughter borrowed the car.
"She had no business parking where she parked," he says, adding, "She's going to be on the bus for awhile."
See also: - Bosley Sr. Solicits Donations For Child's College Tuition: "I've Spent All...I Have" - Freeman Bosley Sr. Says He Won't Accept Donations To Daughter's College Tuition - State Senator John Lamping Caught Parking in Handicapped Spot, Apologizes
The photos were being shared quite a bit on Facebook late last week and on Reddit. The individual who took the photos -- who did not want to be named -- tells Daily RFT that he spotted the car at the Argyle Parking Garage at Euclid Avenue and Lindell Boulevard in the Central West End last Thursday afternoon. He says he alerted a manager, but the car remained there for at least an hour.
As is evidenced in the photo, prominently displayed in the car is the notice saying, "City of St. Louis / Official Business / Board of Aldermen." Here's a close-up from the photo shared with Daily RFT:
Bosley tells us that his daughter, who is home for the summer and soon turning nineteen, was using the car and must have decided to park there without thinking it through.
"She said she only went there for a hot minute," he says, adding, "She has no business doing that. Why would she park in the handicapped spot? I'm 80 years old and I don't park in the handicapped spots."
He adds, "You know how kids are.... Teenagers do what it is they want to do at that moment, not thinking about the consequences."
Bosely says she might have been stopping in the library there, but he doesn't know for sure.
"If you have a teenager, do you know where they are 24-7? If they get a chance to get an automobile, you never know where they are going to go," he continues. "Just as long as they get home at a reasonable hour."
He says he thinks she will learn her lesson by having to take the bus for awhile, now.
He guesses she didn't even know that she was parking illegally. "If she recognized it was handicapped...she probably wouldn't park there."
Bosely says he even got a call from the city treasurer's office, which oversees parking, asking why the vehicle was in that spot.
He adds of his daughter, "She's a very sweet kid. She's a good kid. She's not one to get in any trouble.... This kid ain't got a mean bone in her body."
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