tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post5458233806837661519..comments2020-04-11T03:30:02.282-05:00Gary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-24991062411582894222014-01-25T13:02:29.149-05:002014-01-25T13:02:29.149-05:00Greg &#39;the snowman&#39; Ballard (named for his non-snow removal tactics) should be tarred &amp; feathered for what he did with the parking meters.<br /> He&#39;s ruined any hope of Saturday afternoon leisure activities downtown, such as the various festivals at Military Park. We don&#39;t all have government or military pensions for parking garages, or &#39;free-perks&#39; based on one&#39;s government job.<br /> Previously, local Union musicians often played downtown events regularly - not anymore. The inconvenience of having to constantly leave the job to feed the meter, and the fear of getting towed have done away with that. In fact, you can no longer even park outside the Union building even in the evening (until 9pm?!) except Sunday without paying. And if a &#39;special&#39; event is going on downtown, even the employees are subject to exorbitant fees. Want to go to a concert or special event in the various parks or downtown? Good luck getting in &amp; out of the venue to feed the meter every few hours. His solution? Well, just pay with your credit card. We&#39;ll take your money any way that&#39;s convenient for you, as long as we get it. No more free rides. <br /> Instead of trying to strip Indianapolis of what&#39;s left of it&#39;s small-town charm &amp; trying to turn it into a global city, how about focusing your attention on the residents HERE. If i want to see Chicago, I&#39;ll go to Chicago. But, at least they don&#39;t bulldoze their past there, all in the name of &#39;progress&#39;.garybrewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11471851763872263352noreply@blogger.com