Letter to the Editor

I would like to comment and agree with Jean Hasting’s letter in the Herald (“Don’t put a damper on business for downtown Austin,” Feb. 13). I would also like to compliment all the downtown merchants who, with their events, actually draw customers, not only downtown, but to the whole city of Austin. I know it takes a lot of planning, advertising dollars, volunteers and time.

Why is the downtown area discriminated against by being the only area in Austin with restrictions on parking? Does the city actually make that much money after paying a person policing and marking tires and measuring how far someone is parked from the curb? And if so, why not also hit all the malls and other merchants and restaurants in town?

Is it any wonder we have so many empty buildings downtown and merchants have left downtown Austin to go to other smaller area towns?

We need time to shop, visit, dine, get a facial or our hair done downtown without having to move a car.

Think about it.

Jean Arnold,

Austin