Try to find way to allow public to use garage

Though the Wichita City Council voted Tuesday to begin work on closing off the City Hall parking garage to the public, it’s good that the council asked staff to try to find a way to let the public continue to park there. After all, the public paid for the garage and should, if at all possible, be allowed to use it. Additional security measures are needed in this day and age, but they should be reasonable and not create unnecessary barriers between the people and their government.

6 Comments

  1. JWink
    Posted August 21, 2009 at 7:26 am | Permalink

    On Tuesday mornings when I attend City Council meetings as a visitor, I park in the city hall parking garage. If its full, I drive on to the outside portion and always find a parking spot.

    Many businesses reserve places for their customers and guests in front of their businesses on the theory that its their customers who allow them to be in business.

    Why can’t our local governments take this generous attitude to citizens and people who are their to use their services?

  2. YellowdogLiberal
    Posted August 21, 2009 at 11:06 am | Permalink

    One person, one in what, 120 years? gets mad and causes some destruction (no deaths, no injuries) and all of a sudden the city wants to close city hall up like a bunker. And, oh yeah, reserve all of the choice spots for the city workers.
    Seems like we paid for it, we should be able to park there.
    This was such a stupid idea that since it was announced the protests have been so unrelenting that now they are backing off from it. It was sort of a tipping point, I think.

    Dennis

  3. Regular
    Posted August 21, 2009 at 11:09 am | Permalink

    Perhaps they need more of those giant concrete flower pots to prevent driving tours in the Court House. :)

  4. TomPaine
    Posted August 21, 2009 at 11:44 am | Permalink

    If one really wanted, kill the mayor, council, city manager, etc one could look them up at do it at their home, blocking off the garage doesn’t stop anything

  5. bth
    Posted August 21, 2009 at 12:02 pm | Permalink

    I’m waiting for someone on crutches or a walker to slip on the ice outside while our fat and happy politicians are inside. That lawsuit should be fun.

  6. DavidB
    Posted August 21, 2009 at 5:13 pm | Permalink

    My guess is a huge, sold blast wall would need to be built between the parking and the office building,