To the editor:
I am wondering why our beautiful main thoroughfare of Newburyport, High Street, is littered with beach chairs, plastic patio chairs, folding chairs, and I even saw a leather recliner out there a day or so ago. That probably sounds like a reasonable question and it would be if I weren't a resident. We all know the long-awaited parade concluding Yankee Homecoming will be traveling down our historical street and people from all over the city are "marking" their territory for the big event. But the $64,000 question is why is it acceptable to litter the sidewalks with an assortment of chairs and the such, and assume you are able to claim your parade seat so far in advance? Not to mention (but I will) that many of the chairs are roped together creating a barrier! I could be overly sensitive (one eyebrow is raised and with a perplexed look on my face), but the barrier suggests that you can't sit on the grass in between the chairs roped together, walk through them or even put your chair there the day of the big parade. I guess I'm supposed to have my living room set delivered somewhere along High Street a good week in advance in an effort to have the most comfortable, ideally located seats for the big parade.
Similarly, we seem preoccupied with the merchants downtown who post A-frame signs in an attempt to advertise their goods and services. Our city collects a fee from these merchants for pitching an A-frame sign and imposes a fine if it's not in the right place. Heck, those signs are not nearly as much of an eyesore or as dangerous to the pedestrians of our downtown sidewalks as the used furniture and patio store that lines both sides of High Street.
If I were mayor, and I can assure you I won't be running anytime in the near future, I would contact a furniture moving company to quickly gather up all that used furniture and patio chairs and make a huge donation to Rosie's Place. Moreover, I would allow the downtown retailers, restaurants and business owners to put up an A-frame if they want, at no charge or penalty fees.
Like I said, I'm not the mayor. Furthermore, I won't be attending the parade this year either; I can never find a place to stand.
STACEY CAMPBELL
Newburyport
