Dear Editor,
Re “Free Parking for Stevestonites,” Letters, Nov. 27.
I have to question exactly how well Ms. Godfrey knows Steveston.
She claims there is “very little free parking.” Really? There is free parking on every side street in the village, the entire length of Chatham St., the entire length of Moncton St. from No. 1 Road to 3rd Avenue. There is a huge free lot across from the community centre. There is also plenty of free parking on streets off Chatham.
There are a handful of pay parking lots, but they’re almost always empty.
Do you know why they’re empty, Ms. Godfrey? It’s because there is so much free parking.
I can only assume your complaint has resulted from you not being able to get a parking spot directly in front of the merchant you wished to visit. You do realize that one can walk anywhere in the village in less than five minutes, don’t you?
It is irresponsible, uneducated letters like this which get read by non-Stevestonites and contributes to the thinking that it’s a hassle to come to the village. If Ms. Godfrey and others of her ilk had their way, Steveston would revert to the “quaint fishing village” she speaks of. One major problem with that — you wouldn’t have any of your shops and cafes left to visit because they’d all be out of business due to nonsense letters scaring people away.
Contrary to popular belief, Steveston merchants need outside visitors badly to counteract the generally lukewarm support they get from the “locals.”
Donald Grant
Richmond
