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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma><U><FONT size=6 face=Impact>AVON
THEATRE EXTRA! EXTRA!</FONT></U></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma><STRONG>Hiya, Folks!<BR>For those of you who don't read
the Herald & Review <EM>(and you really should be, y'know)</EM> here is an
editorial that appeared today that concerns <FONT size=4><U>ALL OF
US</U>!!</FONT></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma><STRONG>While I think the person who wrote this editorial
is being very fair and level-headed, I also think the Decatur City Council has a
long way to go before they begin to understand the needs and dynamics of
running a small business.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma><STRONG><EM>(To be more exact: <U>TRYING</U> to run a
small business during the virtual invasion of occupying forces of Decatur
Celebration weekend!).</EM></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma><STRONG>One point (among many) that I would dispute here
in the below editorial is the statement in the last paragraph wherein the
writer finds it (to quote) "<FONT face="Arial Black">odd that more
small-business owners don't take advantage of the huge increase in
traffic."</FONT></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma><STRONG>It isn't "odd" at all. <BR>For the most part, a
huge percentage of the Celebration goers are not interested in anything
but...Celebration!<BR>Many of them do not come downtown for <U>any other
reason</U>, and <U>will not be back</U> except for...
Celebration.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma><STRONG>Even though we offer better quality snacks at
lower prices, <EM>with NO "wristband" required</EM>, every year we see the
hordes walk right past us as if we didn't exist!<BR><BR>Indeed, I find it "odd"
the editorial writer would make this statement with no sense of the
reality of the situation.<BR></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT face=Tahoma>(That's like the clueless who suggest
that I should just take a vacation that weekend! I am so glad they
think I can so blithely decide to take a vacation---maybe these uninformed
persons would care to PAY for it too? I sure can't thanks to losing
a precious summer weekend revenue because of
Celebration!)</FONT> <FONT face=Tahoma><BR></FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma><STRONG>Anyway, here's the
editorial...</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma><EM>(and it ain't bad,
really...)</EM></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<H1><FONT size=5><FONT face=Tahoma><U>HERALD & REVIEW
EDITORIAL</U><BR></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma>(Celebration) Parking compromise seems
fair to all</FONT></FONT></H1>
<DIV class=clear><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT></DIV><!--<div id="story-skyscraper"><img src="global/resources/images/160_600.gif" alt="" /></div>-->
<DIV id=blox-story-text>
<P><FONT size=2 face=Arial>A compromise on parking in the downtown area during
Decatur Celebration has been reached.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The compromise, while a little confusing and as with
most compromises not exactly what anyone wanted, seems to address the parking
situation fairly.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face=Arial>In the past, the city of Decatur has allowed Decatur
Celebration to charge for parking in the city's parking lots and garages,
including garages at North Water and North streets and Franklin and East Main
streets, as well as the two city lots on opposite corners of Wood and Main
streets. Celebration has charged $5 to park in those areas, with the proceeds
going to Celebration.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face=Arial>That process has upset some downtown business owners,
who say it hurts their business when patrons have to pay $5, even though they
may not be attending Celebration. Avon Theatre owner Skip Huston has
consistently complained about the impact of the parking on his business, which
is across the street from the garage on North Water Street.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The compromise is that patrons will still have to pay
for parking but can be reimbursed by downtown businesses participating in the
program. Decatur Celebration will then reimburse the business owners for the
parking fees.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face=Arial>What often gets lost in the discussion about downtown
parking is that these parking areas are not "owned" by any of the businesses.
The fact is that the city's taxpayers own the parking lots and entrusts the city
council to make wise decisions about their use.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Huston has asked for several years that parking in
the garage near his business be free during the festival. That's an
understandable request, but the fact is that free parking that close to
Celebration would most likely fill up quickly, leaving theater patrons jockeying
for other parking areas. Free or not, parking during Celebration is going to be
a challenge.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Mayor Mike McElroy accurately described the situation
as "no-win" and said Celebration has always cost the city more than it returns
in revenue. McElroy said he also was sympathetic to the fact that Celebration
was facing financial difficulties.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Balancing the needs of Celebration with those of
small-business owners is tricky. For some small businesses, "losing" a weekend
of business can be harmful. At the same time, Celebration attracts thousands of
people to downtown, and it seems odd that more small-business owners don't take
advantage of the huge increase in traffic. Downtown business owners also have to
realize that the city parking areas should be used for the greater good of the
city and are not there to solely serve businesses.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The validation and reimbursement compromise seems
like a workable, although potentially confusing, solution.</FONT></P></DIV>
<P class="story-keywords moz-border"><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Posted in </FONT><A
class=tn-tag-link
href="http://www.herald-review.com/news/opinion/editorial"><FONT size=2
face=Arial>Editorial</FONT></A><FONT size=2 face=Arial> on <EM>Tuesday, June 29,
2010 5:00 am <SPAN>Updated: 11:57
pm.</SPAN> </EM> </FONT></P></BODY></HTML>