Editor,
The most disturbing aspect of the proposed plan to close Spring Street for a street fair on Dec. 9 is the lack of respect shown to many of us Spring Street merchants who have a vested interest in what happens here. It has been a clandestine affair.
On Sept. 1, Mayor Butch Berry signed a permit allowing the Mainstreet Network to close Spring Street for this outdoor event. Most of us Spring Street merchants learned about it well into November, a few weeks before the scheduled event.
Our store has been open every day this year. We are easy to contact. We received no information, nor was our opinion solicited by anyone.
One of our neighbors was told the community was surveyed and when he asked who was surveyed, he was told it was “none of his business.” Really! And people wonder why we would be upset. We have a bad attitude? I think they do.
Even our city council was not asked to respond to this proposal until mid-November. They did not give their approval. This is between the mayor and the Mainstreet Network. It appears an elite few made this decision.
Something is wrong with the communication system in this community which should involve a democratic process of inclusiveness; one where we are all given written information in a timely manner and allowed to respond in a written survey. That is the best way to gather information and show the results.
It is my hope there will be a re-evaluation of the way a major event is presented to the merchants and citizens of Eureka Springs and that we are all given the opportunity to be involved in the process early on, to avoid this kind of situation in the future.
Sharron L Becker, Granny’s Place