A close encounter with Meter Readers has transformed another motorist into a former downtown Spokane cuss-tomer. Seems "Janette" tried to beat the Spokane parking jinx June 27. At 4 p.m., she pumped 20-plus nickels into meter No. 2575, near The Onion restaurant. In fact, she pushed in an extra nickel to ensure that she was covered until 6 p.m. However, she noticed she didn't get extra time for that last nickel. It was a sign of things to come. In reading Janette's comment on Huckleberries Online, I was reminded of my January encounter with Diamond Parking as a result of a botched attempt to use the confusing automated machine in a parking lot near the Opera House. But let's return to Janette's story. She found a ticket on her windshield when she returned to her car and noticed that the meter had shorted her 40 minutes. Her reaction? "I'm thinking twice about my next parking-necessary visit if the city can't get its meters working right," she said. "I can walk to a salon near my house. But I prefer the atmosphere and service of downtown business." And you wonder why "shop local" themes resonate elsewhere in the Inland Northwest? (You can find remainder of today's Hot Potatoes in Extended Entry) -- D.F. Oliveria/Spokesman-Review.
Question: When did you last get a parking ticket?
D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.
tried to beat the Spokane parking jinx June 27. At 4 p.m., she pumped 20-plus nickels into meter No. 2575, near The Onion restaurant. In fact, she pushed in an extra nickel to ensure that she was covered until 6 p.m. However, she noticed she didn't get extra time for that last nickel. It was a sign of things to come. In reading Janette's comment on Huckleberries Online, I was reminded of my January encounter with Diamond Parking as a result of a botched attempt to use the confusing automated machine in a parking lot near the Opera House. But let's return to Janette's story. She found a ticket on her windshield when she returned to her car and noticed that the meter had shorted her 40 minutes. Her reaction? "I'm thinking twice about my next parking-necessary visit if the city can't get its meters working right," she said. "I can walk to a salon near my house. But I prefer the atmosphere and service of downtown business." And you wonder why "shop local" themes resonate elsewhere in the Inland Northwest? (You can find remainder of today's Hot Potatoes in Extended Entry) -- D.F. Oliveria/Spokesman-Review.
