Dear Editor,

The rather quiet announcement given us by the Nederland Board of Trustees about the paid parking issue is telling. It hints that they know how unpopular it would be. Many local residents are just now beginning to find out the negative impact of the Board’s decision.

This is the first week of the “trial period” for Interstate Parking to begin collecting fees on our cars. Those of us who drive to Nederland to earn a paycheck, shop for groceries or eat at a restaurant now have to pay an extra $2.50 an hour to Interstate Parking. Tourists who want to shop, eat, and walk around, will have to pay another $2.50 an hour to Interstate Parking. As a result some long-standing Nederland businesses plan to close in anticipation of the decline in sales from customers deterred by Interstate Parking’s unfriendly fees.

I can’t guess why the NBOT is still attempting to push this bad idea. I don’t know why Interstate Parking has been granted such a stranglehold on the people of this community.

No one has explained where this revenue would go or who it would benefit.

Along with whoever might be getting a sweet contract, Interstate Parking looks like the winner. And it’s crystal clear that the money will come directly from our pockets.

It is an abuse of power to impose an arbitrary expense upon an entire community of people who can’t afford to pay it. So why should this bully be allowed to take our lunch money, threaten our vehicles, and shake down our cash registers?

Interstate Parking doesn’t need or deserve our hard-earned money. The NBOT should listen to the public instead of catering to a big corporation.

It’s time to stop this project now, before any more damage is done to our town.

Ruth Nielsen

Gilpin County