Letters to the editor for May 8

A cup of joe

In 1986, the aroma of roasted coffee beans wafted over downtown Olympia. Dick Batdorf could be found checking the beans in his roaster, which was placed just a couple of stools from the end of the B&B coffee bar. With Shannon Bronson ensuring the shots were pulled to perfection, the little Batdorf and Bronson coffee shop became many workers’ pre-dawn coffee watering hole. Many became regulars and friends.

Not long after B&B opened its door, Larry and Cherie Challain opened Dancing Goats coffee shop a few blocks away, serving B&B roasted beans with an upscale atmosphere and gourmet baked goods. At the corner of Legion and Capitol Way, Starbucks laid down the challenge to the little coffee shops around the corner.

One might think that it gave the small independent roasters the “coffee jitters.” It didn’t; Olympia’s B&B/Dancing Goats have since prospered — along with many other local roasters like Olympia Coffee. And now, at that Legion and Capitol Way location, Dancing Goats coffee is being served.

“On the corner of Legion Way

There once was a Starbucks Café

Alas, it is gone

A new brew has dawned

Dancing Goats kick up hooves and play.”

Miguel Perez-Gibson, Olympia

Parking in downtown Olympia

On a recent trip into Olympia, I made the mistake of trying to park downtown.

The city meters demand money (it’s now $1.25) for an hour of parking, but the meters don’t max out at one hour even when provided more money. In other words, the meters don’t work, and the city continues to take quarters and other coins from people, but does not provide the service that money is supposed to provide. A low-level city employee who responds to calls about the meters acknowledged the meters don’t always work.

As I returned to my car to put more money on a meter I knew would soon expire, a meter maid was putting a yellow envelope on my windshield. I yelled out, from about 10 feet away, that I was about to put more money on the meter on my car (again, the meters don’t work, but continue to take money). I was told I was too late and that I had to pay a ticket, despite the fact that I was present and would have put more coins in the meter.

The fact that the city charges people to use meters that don’t work, and enforces tickets on those meters that don’t work, is what lawsuits are made out of. It’s also an embarrassment for the city, and one of the reasons no one wants to go downtown and the reason half the buildings are empty downtown.

Bill Dole, Olympia

I’m not afraid of downtown Olympia

I am a 76-year-old woman with spinal arthritis, so I am not going to be running away from anyone. I’ve never felt unsafe or intimidated by walking and shopping downtown Olympia. I love visiting and shopping at the wide variety of independent shops on Fourth and Fifth avenues: Buck’s for my spices, Encore for my chocolates and tea, Orca Books and Browsers for my reading, and Rainy Day Records for entertainment. Then, of course, the Bread Peddler and 222 Market for goodies.

Selden’s is the first place I go for furniture. At least once a month I go to the food bank to drop off egg cartons and grocery bags they need. Never once have I felt intimidated, or at fear for my safety.

Of course there are problems, particularly at night where a number of bars are clustered. But the area downtown where our various live entertainment and film society are located are so well populated at night, the only reason not to go and enjoy is the fact that all the public parking lots require that you possess a smart phone to make payment, and I have no need for a smart phone, so need to take a taxi if I want to attend something at night.

Kathryn Ashe, Olympia