To the editor:

I just read the story about the Lawrence City Commission taking up the issue of more sidewalk space being taken up by bars. My question relates to that but does not involve the bars.

I am sure that the ordinance that allows restaurants/bars to use sidewalk space designates how much space they can use. That is why all of them have railings of the same distance out from the front of the building. My issue is: Do the same rules apply to other stores?

What I am referring to is that the past several weekends (especially game days) there is at least one clothing/sports store that has a sidewalk sale. The problem is they take the entire sidewalk, leaving just a narrow walkway for pedestrians. They place large barrels by the storefront and then racks of clothes over the rest of the space to the curb. This makes it very difficult for more than one person to get through at a time (and much less if someone is actually shopping).

I realize on Sidewalk Sale day pretty much all rules are out the window, but does every weekend have to be a sidewalk sale? Are there rules about this, and who in the city should be enforcing them?