This is a copy of the e-mail I sent to the Gazette editor today regarding our thums down on signage.
I am a member of the Toursim Advisory Board. Today I see that we have a thumbs down from you regarding signage. Perhaps you should have looked at the whole picture before making a decision.
We are in fact adding signage and the reason is to increase revenue to the City. As you know Parlatos parking lot is taking away a large prtion of our parking revenue each year. This is compounded by the fact that he makes his employees stand in the road and derail tourists into his lot. I have spoken to many people who have been sent in there and then told they could not get out without paying ! The city can not flag people into our own ramp or lots as it is against a city ordinance. Parlato, of course, is breaking that. Our only option to re-gain some of that revenue is to stipulate where the city owned lots are. The city charges a flat rate for parking whereas Mr Parlatos lot ranges from $10-$20. This is somehthing you find out when you get in there, not beforehand.In an effort to help the city regain revenue and to relieve some of the financial burden to the tourists this is the best solution.
As far as your comment about working with USA Niagara on the wayfinding system,you are misled.We have had representatives at all their meetings and we have worked with them to share our ideas.
We are also working to have misleading, redundant and excessive signage removed from the city. It is a tedious process as we can not just take them down ourselves. There is a chain of command that must be followed and approvals to be given. I wish it was that easy.
In the future please contact Vince Mameli, chairman of the sign committee, if there are any questions surrounding our intentions.
Debora Krieger