Jeff (Parking Enforcement Officer) - PPA

How did you become involved with the PPA?
I received this job through one of my parents. I'm actually one of the first but my younger brother works here and he got the job through the same person I got the job through.

Why did you join the PPA?
Basically I had no other opportunities ahead of me other than this one so it was very appealing and I took it.

What traits do you need to do this job well?
This job doesn't take much - just a tough mental state. I think anybody could do it if they just apply themselves it's not that hard. You go through a class, you learn all the things. Going through the class is one thing but you really don't learn everything 'till you're out on the street. You learn how people are; a better part of the job is feeling the people, and that takes some skill. That's not something you learn over night. You need to really get into their heads and see what they're thinking and react to it in a way where they won't react crazy and do something nutty. So you gotta be able to deal with people and calm them down.

Marlene (Parking Enforcement Officer) - PPA

How did you become involved with the PPA?
I moved up to the mountains with my husband 15 years ago when he retired from the police department. I got a job in a convenience store. This is where I learned to deal with the public. When he passed away I decided to come back to Philadelphia and I landed this job. I just kick myself that I didn't have this job sooner. I enjoy it.

Why did you join the PPA?
I wouldn't be happy sitting behind a desk. I enjoy this job because I like being outside. You're with people every day; I'm a people person even if sometimes we get yelled at. We work very hard. And we take a lot of abuse.

What traits do you need to do this job well?
A good PEO knows when to keep warm and knows when to keep cool. We're pounding these pavements every day, concrete is not good on our legs, on our knees, but we walk and we walk and we walk. And it's great. You can make this job or you can break it. It's a great job.

You have to be a certain type of person. You can't have anger. We don't even go to school for anger management. I mean, we just go out in the street, and basically we're told to use a little bit of common sense.

Luz (Ticketing Supervisor) - PPA

How did you become involved with the PPA?
I used to work at a jewelry store named Bangles and Beads on South Street, and I used to see the ticket writers out there writing tickets, and one day I just asked one of them where they were located? She told me, I went and put my application in and I was hired. I started as a ticket writer and about two and a half years later I was promoted to meter mechanic. I really didn't like it, not that I didn't like that job, I wasn't an inside person. I had to be inside for a few weeks for the training and stuff. So I came back into ticketing, and about two months or three months later, I was promoted to supervisor.

Why did you join the PPA?
I'm a people's person. I enjoy speaking to people; I enjoy helping people with directions. Office jobs are not for everybody, everything is different. I have to be outside. I'm a people's person. This was meant for me.

What traits do you need to do this job well?
To do this job, you have to have the heart, because you'll get people out here that'll tell you all kinds of stuff. They will curse you out, but you cannot get really upset about it because it's part of the job. They curse at you, they want to call the police on you, and they want to say they're being harassed if you write them a couple times. It's a tough job. But I'm not your friend. I'm here to do my job, and I want you to do your job. Do it right and we'll go home with a nice peace of mind.

Tiffany (Parking Enforcement Officer) - PPA

How did you become involved with the PPA?
I was working for UPS for seven years as a supervisor at a hub. I got let go from my last job and by the grace of God I was lucky enough to find this one. This job was better; I make more money coming in the door and I'm not even a supervisor, the benefits are better and the hours are better, I get the weekends off and I get exercise, it works out.

Why did you join the PPA?
Why this job of all jobs? You know what I like about this job? You get to meet new people every single day. There are confrontations here and there, but I like that sometimes. Some days-- don't get me wrong-- it's not fun, it's not fun at all. They can really test your nerves and challenge you. Belittle you if they want. But overall it's a pretty good job. You don't go through that every single day.

What are the traits that make a good ticketer?
There are some days when you actually have to say the serenity prayer to keep your sanity because you would lose it on people that target your race or target you because you're a woman and I'm like, "Where do you get off calling me names because I gave you a 26 dollar ticket on a meter that you didn't even pay?" I don't understand that. How do you talk to a stranger that way, what gives you the right?

A day in the parking authority is what you make it. What I mean by that is, if you come up here like all big and bad, your hands on your holster, you know what I mean; you're not going to get a really good reaction. Especially in areas where they already think the worst of you as it is. You're only confirming that when you come up here you're nasty. You give respect; you're going to get it. I expect them to respect me as well.