[Vision2020] Parking

[Pat Kraut]

I wanted to submit this letter to the paper but it is too long so I have
edited it but will post the whole thing on this site for your enjoyment.

Editor:

I disagree that the city council did a good thing in postponing the decision
about the possible parking problem downtown.
The council was shown a photo of the Jackson Street lot and Mr. Lambert said
there were empty spots available a fact that seemed to get lost somewhere as
the evening went on. No one asked just how many spaces are in the lot and if
NSA has 200 or 150 students and they all want to park will it fill that lot?
Am I to assume that the council already knows the answer to the question?
Does anyone on the council know the answer to that question? How many spots
on main or any other street in the area are there and who fills them? Are
people eating? Visiting the doctor?  How long do they stay at the gym? Do
other businesses downtown ask their employees their parking habits? Shouldn'
t we actually do some sort of survey and find out if there really is a
problem?
 The council was informed that there are problems with zones putting a
parking lot in any other area of town except the central business zone but
is making NSA find more spots anyway. It would be fair to ask NSA to find 42
more spots in town if anyone could be sure that there actually is a parking
problem. I would be more convinced that there is a problem with some people
finding what they believe is convenient parking. Maybe what we need is more
handicapped parking for those who have trouble walking any distance and an
exercise program for the others. How long has it been since the city
actually did any type of questioning of those parking downtown because other
businesses say there is a problem does not make is truth. I remember the
restaurant in the hotel and I can assure it wasn't parking that made my
friends and I stop eating there. It was one very bad meal with lousy
service. Moscow is a small town and the word gets out quickly. Most of my
friends and I have lived in Moscow a long time and know how to find parking
to any location so I do not believe it was parking that closed that
restaurant.
Once again a city council has simply left the real decision for another year
and another council.
Pat Kraut