To the editor:

On Wednesday, Dec. 27, we traveled from Topeka to Lawrence to meander up and down “Mass. Street.” We want to patronize the wonderful local shops and spend our money to support the local merchants.

We refuse to shop at Wal-Mart and feel they negatively impact “downtown America” by undercutting the local small business owners who work hard to keep the wonderful atmosphere of Mass. Street alive.

We parked in a parking stall near Seventh and Massachusetts and fed the parking meter making sure to cover for two hours of time. We shopped multiple shops along the way.

We returned to the car and found a parking ticket on the windshield. I looked at our parking meter only to find 12 minutes remaining on the meter, which confused me, and frankly, disappointed me. We stood there for a few minutes discussing this “parking ticket situation” when a delightful Lawrence citizen, named Jeannie, asked if we put money in the correct meter because they are confusing with the little arrows pointing to “this stall.” Indeed, we had used the correct meter. So why was there a ticket at all?

I urge Lawrence citizens, merchants and city management to review the parking meter situation and the seemingly random issuing of parking tickets on meters with time remaining. We love to walk up and down Mass. Street, but this situation left a negative impression to a spending visitor.

Jeff Scott

Topeka