To the editor:

I attended the Dowagiac car show that had a large turnout of really nice cars.

The show drew a large number of spectators who enjoyed a nice day, cars and downtown Dowagiac.

There seemed to be a shortage of parking space.

One person parked his truck and trailer in the parking lot, then was blocked by cars parked on each end.

Over two hours after the show ended he was still waiting to load his car.

I parked in the city-owned lot where the new museum is located, so my trailer wouldn’t take up parking places nearer the show.

The city just put up no parking signs, about 12 feet high. I cannot see them out of my truck window when driving by.

The lot had many cars and trailers parked there during the day. The police department had fun writing parking tickets.

I went to the car show just to help support a local event. If I’m treated this way, I will not be back.

Three of my friends do not plan on going next year.

How many other people will do the same? And their friends?

Dowagiac departments have to work together to make local events survive.

Even the mayor did not bring one of his cars to help support a local car show.

I have seen one town in southwest Michigan lose a car show because of the way it treated participants, one of them being the police department.

I hope Dowagiac can make people feel like they are welcome to our town.

Larry Stoker

Dowagiac