The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-14
Second Avenue Merchants Claim Discrimination
 Shown WANT REGULATIONS MADE ON PARKING Seek Enforcement Of One Hour Limit For
 Autos UNABLE TO LOAD TRUCKS AT STORE Claim Measures Work To Ad- vantage Of Municipal
 Market

Charges that the city commission was discriminating against merchants on Second avenue between Twenty-first and Twenty-second streets, were made Saturday by merchants on that street.
 These charges were based upon the fact that the city enforced an hour parking limit in the vicinity of the new municipal market, but refused to put similar limit in effect on Second ave nue. It was pointed out that with one exception every store on the Southslde of Second avenue between Twenty first and Twenty-second streets, sells food stuffs and is competitor of the city owned market.
 They further charged that this policy is driving customers away from Sec ond avenue stores, because patrons are unable to secure parking space. An other grievance was that while Com missioner w. B. Cloe told the merchants that it would be impossible to enforce hour-parking on the block because of lack of policemen, there is no-park- ing restriction along the alley behind the stores, which is being rigidly en- forced.
 Because of these conditions, the stores and markets claim they are un- able to load their trucks, except at a great disadyatage or by carrying the produce at least block. One mer- chant stated that while he had been in business for eight years, the policy of the city commission was forcing him to consider selling or disposing of his store.
 T have eight trucks and automobiles which are used to deliver orders," J. NT nf EaOnnnlIPa a Meat market and the Plaza market, stated. Tt is impossible for me to load these trucks near the store. We cannot park in the alley. We cannot park on Second avenue.
 "Then from observation, have found that customers of long standing are trading at other stores, simply because they find it impossible to park near my place of business. It is costing me a considerable sum of money every week.
 "I cannot see why we should not have the advantage of hour-parking similar to that in effect near the mu- nicipal market.
 Two other merchants, who asked that their names be withheld, asserted that machines were parked on Second ave
 
 never moved until after 6 o'clock at night. The merchants, themselves, are compelled to park their automobiles sev- eral blocks from their stores, and only by great difficulty, are able to load their delivery trucks.
 Injustice Done
 t9rhe auto owners might be custo- mers of ours," one of the merchants said, "but they are working a great injustice upon their fellow citizens and npon the stores by parking all day long in one spot"
 J.. T. Wallace of the Birmingham market, called attention to the fact that witt one exception all the stores on the south side of the block were competitors of the municipal market, and gave as hi opinion, the fact that all the mer- chants and store keepers were in favor ol the hour-parking system for the bock.
 People who work in the big office buildings and who come to work early in the morning, park their machines here," he said, "why wouldn't it be possible for them to park a few blocks away in the residential sections