Comment

Comment by Mark Sweetland on August 2, 2015 at 3:39am

Unfortunately, I saw no advance publicity on this, and was not even aware of it.  I did hear the band start to play on Thurston, around 12:30, and they were great all afternoon.  But nobody was there.  I went down the street, and saw no local merchants participating on Thurston.  What a missed opportunity, the day after the Mayor cut the ribbon on Thurston Village.  A street of empty shops.  I did not need my nails done, but could have used some hardware.  One store owner told me, yes, now we have benches, so illegal sellers can be comfortable.  I did observe one the other day, selling something from his bench in front of a store, having a cool drink, selling loose cigarettes.  What an enhancement for the city!  How many millions did they spend?  What are all these plaques stuck in the sidewalk announcing you are in the Thurston Village, 19th Ward?  Please instead let us have more police officers walking down the street.  I have yet to see one.