Graham, Donna
From: Stephen Bahsler < :
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2022 9:44 AM
To: Board of Aldermen
Ce: Graham, Donna; Cummings, Tim
Subject: Downtown Nashua’a jersey Barriers
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Dear Ladies & Gentlemen
| write this letter as a lifelong Nashua resident and business owner. | am a practicing CPA as
well as an active member of the Masonic Fraternity, which has been part of Nashua
community since 1822, when we were still the Township of Dunstable. | am opposed to the
expanded sidewalk tables and barriers on Main St during the summer. As a CPA] can
appreciate how difficult it is to succeed in the restaurant industry. It is a struggle at the best of
times, let alone when trying to keep the doors open during the COVID pandemic, with all of
the unique challenges that brings.
That being said, the traffic and parking situation downtown is problematic at best. | try to
support the downtown merchants, and | spend much of my free time at the Masonic Temple
at 198 Main St. The Masons also operate a children’s dyslexia tutoring center (a program
offered free of charge) at 200 Main St, which | am also involved with. The reduction of parking
and travel lanes on Main St turn any trip downtown into an exercise in frustration. There isa
lack of adequate parking at the best of times, and when on street parking is eliminated on top
of that, who wants to go downtown? Many of us still have to. With my health issues, which
includes severe rheumatoid arthritis, | do not appreciate the search for parking and the % mile
walk every time | go to the Masonic Temple, or the Dyslexia Tutoring Center, let alone to any
of the other downtown merchants and clients that | frequent. It also makes it difficult for the
students who are enrolled at the dyslexia center, and their parents who often accompany
them to class.
We all want an active and vibrant downtown, and we want our local businesses to succeed,
but restaurants aren't the only businesses downtown. The rest of us deserve a chance too.
Sincerely
Stephen K. Bahsler
