Main Street

Ron George cares enough about his town and his business to make sure his thoughts are heard and recently bought an ad in The Capital to express them (The Capital, July 1).

I heartily agree.

George wrote eloquently regarding business currently in the historic district. Many of the retail businesses downtown are hanging on by their toes.

Closing the streets several times/days a week to enable restaurants to start thriving again is a noble idea, but misplaced.

There are other businesses that shrivel as the parking, right outside the shops, has been removed. Quick in, and business transacted, and quick out, is not available.

You cannot clean your laundry virtually. Some people need to bring their baskets of clothes to the laundromat. How far is it reasonable to carry dirty laundry?

Last year, closing the first block of West Street to pedestrians Wednesday evenings seemed novel. A different idea to draw customers’ attention to local shops. This year, with the extra restrictions, more streets are closed, more often to customers. Some of us rely on our vehicles to move around. We are not able to nimbly navigate through closures and detours.

I ask that you close West, Maryland and Main, and possibly others, one weekday evening, weekly, to benefit the restaurants. The same day every week. Be consistent. Reopen our streets.

Allow cars and their passengers access to city shops and resources again.

For the health of our wonderful city, quit making customers unwelcome.

There are other places to shop.

ANNE P. SMALL Annapolis