MALLED IN!

    TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11TH., 2018
                     MALLED IN!

    A funny thing happened to me as I was
leaving the Marketplace at Steamtown (formally
the Steamtown Mall) Monday. I couldn't!
    Much to the delight (not) of holiday
shoppers the parking garage at and under
the mall, which used to be free, began
charging earlier this year.
     Now to be fair, shoppers do have access
to several hours of free parking. In order to
take advantage of the free time you simply
ask any clerk for a ticket. You then take
that ticket to the exit gate where you insert
the ticket you got when you entered, then
follow that with the ticket you got from the
clerk. I'm not sure what happens if you put
the second ticket in first! Perhaps I just
don't what to know!
      There are two exit ramps on the east
side of the mall. Those are the ones most
heavily used.
      On Monday, however, one of those
ramps was closed for repairs. By the time
the usual two lanes merged into one and
each driver inserted his or her pair of
tickets the basement of the mall began
to look like the Holland tunnel at rush
hour!
      I've got to believe some holiday
shoppers were wondering why they had
come in the first place. Especially when
many area downtowns bag their parking
meters during the Christmas shopping
period and allow people to park for free!
No wonder so many people are buying
on line!
      A frustrated attendant, the person
who usually tutors visitors on how the
ticket system works, finally gave up,
raised the gate  and waved drivers out
as quickly as she could given the fact
there's a traffic light about 5 car lengths
from her stand!
        I can't help hoping one of the
people who came up with that charge
for parking and ticket system got caught
in that traffic jam! Hope they'll just
raise the gate through December 24th
and that all your NEWS is good!