I am a long time visitor to Rehoboth Beach and now, as a new resident, I have found the city, the residents, the business owners, and the beautiful beach very welcoming and friendly. I have no problem with parking. I have a driveway and residential parking passes. My concern is with the people who visit our city. The visitors are an indispensable resource to our economy.

Recently, I became aware that there has been a change for parking for the Fourth of July fireworks. Instead of parking in the field on Route 1 (near Jungle Jim's water park) and taking buses to downtown, the plan this year is for our visitors to park at Gordons Pond and watch the fireworks from the beaches. This area is far from the merchants downtown, who depend on the revenue from visitors. Both groups suffer - the visitors and the business owners.

I watch people stop and search and wait for parking spaces all the time, but especially at night. Do we want people to visit our city and eat at the restaurants and shop in the wonderful variety of shops? Then we should have ample parking for them.

What we need is leadership that has a visible long term strategic plan for parking that supports our visitors, merchants, and our residents. This year's solution is shortsighted and shows evidence of a lack of visionary leadership that has no long range planning. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Rehoboth Beach has great potential that needs to be led by a leader that has a clear, concise, and convincing vision. Vote for Tom McGlone for Mayor of Rehoboth Beach on Saturday, Aug. 9.

Patricia Anbro
Rehoboth Beach