To the editor:

A big thanks to the City Commission for the financial gift to some marketing group to attract shoppers to downtown Lawrence.

What is going on? The residents of Lawrence and shoppers have again been indirectly fleeced. And just who and how will the “gift” from the commission be spent? This marketing ploy only benefits those who have received the “gift.” Where is the big headline that reads: “Thousands of dollars to be wasted this summer on downtown”?

Why didn’t the commission have free parking for the next five weeks or whatever? Every lot and meter downtown would be free. That would have attracted shoppers. The meter maids would have been on paid sabbatical. A very simple solution to a very obvious problem.

The five of you have again been brainwashed into thinking that another study, marketing or whatever will “save downtown.”

Thanks for wasting more thousands of dollars.

When will the next bad decision come? Do you plan to accommodate the residents whose streets will be closed for weeks east of Massachusetts, New Hampshire Street? And where will they park? Has anyone from the city thought about making arrangements with Trinity Lutheran Church and compensating them for parking for the owners/residents on New Hampshire?

Bad ideas always come forth from bad leadership.

David Holroyd,

Lawrence