Letter to the Editor - To all Downtown Merchants

To all Downtown Merchants;

For the past approximate 9 months we have used our Jeep at Pony Expresso to advertise our location, down behind Pizza Factory. Our vehicle is vital to our business as far as visitors and returning tourists finding us this first year since our move.

Early this year at one of the many sign meetings/workshops the BOS stated they were working on “way finding” signs to direct people to business’, like Pony, off the main drag and less visible. We decided at that point to utilize our vehicle until the said signs were erected. The BOS has talked of items like this before and nothing has happened so we took it upon ourselves to be a “thorn in their side” in the hopes of helping these signs come to fruition. Once the signs are installed our Jeep will cease to be parked on the highway regularly.

Our Jeep is moved every day that it is parked in town so as to not be parked in front of one business all the time. We are parking in the street legally and conscientiously and as of this moment in time only one person has ever come to speak with us concerning the Jeep in a civil manner and guess what? We're still friendly and civil! We have received notes, with and without signatures, one nasty phone call and one nasty visit most recently. We've also dealt with vandalism. These are 5 different people and all started out nasty. I don’t understand why my fellow neighbors cannot express themselves without using expletives or starting conversations with threats and ridiculous calls to the Sheriff and CHP without coming over and just talking first?

I did recently have a nice long talk with Elaine Seymour, of Chocolate Soup and the Merchant Group, regarding the parking issue. Although we had differing opinions on some of the matters at hand we were both successful at understanding each other’s point of view and reasoning for such opinions. What a concept. We treated each other with respect, considerately listened to each other and we both left the conversation satisfied and smiling. I wish more of my neighbors understood the idea of communication. Thank you for reading this.

Sincerely,

Amy Eaton
Mariposa, Ca.