Free holiday parking

Downtown parking policies are why businesses are losing money! It is very hard to find a place to park downtown on any given day of the year, let alone the holiday season. It is very difficult to get into the “spirit of the season” while shopping downtown, when you have to worry about plugging your meter every couple of hours.

The solution is very simple. I believe that the city of Spokane should offer free selective parking days leading up through the holiday shopping season. This will help to breathe some life back into the downtown economy, and if done in the spirit of giving, will not break City Hall.

This will also bring in new customers, creating much needed revenue for these businesses. Maybe the city can strike a deal with the business owners, and ask for a small percent of their profits brought in through the holiday season. This is a win-for-all situation. Customers can shop at their leisure without the pending doom of a parking ticket. The businesses’ owners will make more money, and the city of Spokane will still get paid.

If people are allowed to do their shopping without having to worry about how much time is left on their parking meters, they just might stay awhile longer, enjoy their shopping experience, and spend that extra dollar or two.

Walter Johnston

Spokane