This morning, Keene liberty activists and at least one critic (Brandie Roof) called WKBK‘s morning show. Host Dan Mitchell and guest Kendall Lane (“the mayor”) were discussing the New York Times piece on Robin Hooders as well as parking in Keene. Here’s the audio:
![the-new-york-times[1]](https://i0.wp.com/freekeene.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/the-new-york-times1-300x240.jpg?w=150)
Thanks to columnist Dan Barry for taking an interest in the goings-on here in Keene and also thanks to the editors for making it a FRONT PAGE story! His piece was published today in the New York Times and focuses on Robin Hooding, the Free State Project and the haters. Here’s the story:
KEENE, N.H. — In most places, the parking enforcement officer reflects the municipal compact. Armed only with a gadget that can spit out a ticket at the forgotten drop of a dime, the officer quietly serves civic and commercial life by ensuring that meters are fed.
In most places, yes. But not here in charming Keene, where parking officers figure in a philosophical tug of war between a small band of activists who live by the motto “Free Keene,” and the great majority of residents who were unaware that their city was in bondage. (more…)
Seamus O’Connor and his wife, Carolyn Hanks have lived in the Monadnock region of New Hampshire for a few years now. Both have claimed participation in the Free State Project, but have also been long time critics of Free Keene bloggers, both belonging to a large “STOP FREE KEENE!!!” group on facebook. On April 
23 of 2014, Seamus uploaded a video titled, “Garret”, which consisted of several repeated explicit threats of violence directed at Garret Ean. Beginning the monologue with, “Garret, I’m gonna kick your ass, you mutherfucker…”, the narrator goes on to repeat the “kick your ass” line, interspersed with references to a rough childhood, and expectations of a non-response to such violence by local authorities. (more…)
If the people calling themselves the “City of Keene” actually cared about business owners, they’d eliminate the parking department that is driving customers OUT of the downtown. Another letter to the Sentinel was published this Friday from a local business owner, this time by John Croteau of Syd’s Carpet and Snooze Room. Croteau explains he’s lost countless frustrated customers over the years since parking meters were installed in Keene:
Do parking meter cost increases, doubling parking fines and increasing the hours for plugging the meters from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. make Keene a friendlier, more inviting place to shop?
If Nathaniel Stout (“Parking increases are the only fair way,” April 16) thinks so, he is wrong.
I have been in business on St. James Street for well over 45 years and I can tell you there is no bigger drawback to shopping in Downtown Keene than the parking meters and parking fines. It would be very unusual for our customers to choose new flooring, bedding or furniture in less than 30 minutes. So when they lose track of time and find a ticket on their windshields upon exiting our store, they get extremely upset. I have heard many customers make the comment (even after I pay their tickets) that they will never shop Downtown Keene again. (more…)
Kudos to downtown business owner Peggy Schauffler for speaking up against the parking enforcement in Keene in her recent letter to the editor to the Keene Sentinel. In the letter she describes the constant negative feedback she receives from customers regarding Keene’s parking enforcement. She indicates that people tell her they are less likely to shop downtown due to the parking enforcement and she herself says she refused to shop downtown prior to starting a business there!
If the city council wanted to do something good for the downtown, they should eliminate the parking department entirely and let business and downtown property owners decide for themselves how to handle parking. Of course, don’t expect a single city councilor to put that idea on the table. If we’re lucky, they’ll stop the proposed increase, but that won’t bring people back downtown who refuse to shop there TODAY.
Here’s Peggy’s letter:
“I hate coming to Keene!” I looked up as a customer walked through the door.
I said, knowing the root of the problem, “What’s the problem?”
They replied “I have never been in a city before where the meter people are so unfriendly.”
Conversations on meter readers is a continual topic in my store, and I have yet to hear one that is pleasant. (more…)
In an inspiring show of solidarity, dozens of downtown business owners have signed a petition opposing the city’s proposed parking rate increases! You can see that petition here in the agenda packet for tonight’s city council meeting. Please support these fine businesses and thank them for standing up for their customers and against the proposed increased rates and fines for parking!
Here’s a story from the Keene Sentinel’s Kyle Jarvis, highlighting the opinions of some of the signers: (more…)
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