Regarding John Moran’s letter (Herald, Aug. 17) about the cost of parking in Durango and the fines for those whose meters run out – the tourist who returned all his purchases, worth $500, because of the ticket he received – made a strong statement, which was costly to merchants – about city policies that are unwelcoming to tourists and to locals, many of whom, including myself, no longer shop downtown due to parking issues.

Such lost dollars to our shops will no doubt cost the city far more than the revenue from overpriced, over-supervised meters. Why not remove them all and have reasonable restrictions on parking times and a meter maid to chalk tires to enforce those and to give tickets for violators? Certainly this would be a more acceptable, fair and welcoming approach to merchants, out-of-towners and locals.

Merchants need to get behind a plan to change meters on Main Avenue.

Judy Turner

Durango