the walkway through the parking lot on the western en d of Santa Rosa Plaza leads to Fourth St. and Railroad Square. Railroad square merchants and the City of Santa Rosa have applied for $500,000 grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Don't blame Simon

EDITOR: Concerning Simon Properties' plan to start charging for parking at the Santa Rosa Plaza ("No more free parking," Friday), I think that the anger toward Simon is misdirected. It's not Simon's fault that they're the last free parking area in town. It was the city that went ahead first and began to charge for every single inch of available parking space possible.

If City Councilman Jake Ours is really so concerned, maybe he could work toward making some of the city space free instead. City officials may say how upset they are for the poor workers downtown, but I'll bet they're actually pretty happy at the prospect of the new parking revenue to come.

The workers using the mall haven't exactly helped their case either by driving around chains and refusing to relinquish the prime spots. What particularly irritates me are the workers who occupy the handicapped spots by Macy's all day. If they're able to walk into town to work, then they're able to park elsewhere in the garage. But they don't.

TRACEY NELSON

Santa Rosa

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