THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 6, 1996 TAG: 9611060008
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A26 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 28 lines
My wife and I were fortunate to attend the Bob Dole campaign rally held at Nauticus a couple of weeks ago. I usually tend to stay away from downtown as I dislike trying to find a parking space or having to pay to park in a parking garage.
Imagine my surprise when I found the parking garage at City Hall unmanned, the ticket machine not operating and a sign that said, ``Special Event Parking.'' I believed that the city of Norfolk was going to give Hampton Roads residents a break at an event that was surely to draw thousands.
How wrong could I have been? At the conclusion of the rally, we returned to discover that the attendant's booth was manned and a price had been added to the ``Special Event Parking'' sign. I was forced to pay to leave the garage. While the fee was not unaffordable, I do not appreciate being tricked into paying.
Unfortunately, if the city of Norfolk wants to conduct business this way, then they are free to do so. I sincerely hope they change their mind before MacArthur Center is built; otherwise, I'm certain they are building a multimillion-dollar goose egg.
MARK C. SWITZER
Virginia Beach, Oct. 29, 1996 by CNB