Free parking

EDITOR: Sheila Whipple hates the parking meters downtown, but states that if she has to come downtown she parks in a municipal garage ("Parking frustration," Letters, Aug. 17).

Meter revenue helps maintain the city's garages and lots. Having been in business on Fourth Street since 1980, I remember when there were no meters. There were more complaints when there was free parking on the street, because customers rarely found a vacant space.

Unlike neighboring towns, our downtown has thousands of federal, state, county, city, financial, service, restaurant and retail workers who mostly drive to work and need parking. Employers have attempted to have employees park farther out, leaving close-in spots for visitors. Metered parking has been the only effective way to create the turnover that makes street parking available to our short term visitors.

Many downtown merchants, sensitive to the prickly issues of parking (and the new pay stations) are giving away vouchers for free parking in our downtown garages, hoping to acquaint our valued customers with off-street parking options.

Our garages are well-staffed, closer than you think to wherever you want to go and cheaper than the street meters. Come on downtown: Shop locally, and we'll help you park for free.

BERNIE SCHWARTZ

California Luggage

Santa Rosa