Comeback Queen
Simon Wilson's suggestions for fixing Queen St's degradation (NZ Herald, May 24) will not bring big spenders back.
Penalising landlords for their empty shops won't make anyone keener to rent them.
Going further downmarket with pop-up stores, flea markets, food trucks and street entertainment of dubious quality will
not drag successful business enterprises back.
The effort to force people to walk long distances (or cycle) by blocking off half the width of the street has succeeded only in attracting more people requiring a much-increased police presence, not those ready to splash the cash.
High-end designer stores may be ruing the day leases were signed.
Recently, having caught the bus from Remuera to the Civic, I found that the return stops were sited halfway up the steep hill part of Wellesley St to Sky City in the west or past the Art Gallery to Albert Park in the east. Having climbed the latter option I won't be doing that again soon.
I agree with the Heart of the City view that going back to the upmarket way things were is the only chance for Queen St's future. The alternative is probably a permanent slum strip.
Coralie van Camp, Remuera.
Open for business
Simon Wilson suggests (NZ Herald, May 24) that it's the landlords' fault that many shops are empty in the Auckland CBD. I am sure the landlords would have no trouble leasing their shops if only people were going there.
The basic problem with the CBD is because of the treatments given to it by the Auckland Council and Auckland transport, including the restricting of access and restricting vehicles and parking. Heart of the City and the business people also share some of the blame for meekly allowing this treatment to happen. They have discouraged people.
As an example, look at Onehunga. Many years ago, the shopping area was closed to traffic and turned into a mall. Many shops became vacant and the area virtually died. After a few years and against strong opposition, the mall was opened up again to traffic, the empty shops filled up and the area became alive again and still is.
It's obviously simple really, restrict access and make it very difficult for people and motorists and they will go elsewhere. There are plenty of malls with good parking.
Ken Graham, Greenlane.
Revival recipe
To revitalise, Queen St needs a Chinatown with lanterns and big vibrantly-coloured gates, with Qing Dynasty designs.
A thoroughfare filled with eateries, with windows displaying crispy duck and pork.
Menus like steamed dumplings, noodle dishes with yummy sauces and spicy Sichuan dishes.
Tiong Ang, Mt Roskill.
Longer sentences
Life is very precious so the penalty for killing a person should always be years in jail. If done with a gun, knife or cricket bat it usually is.
As per the very sad story on page one (NZ Herald, May 25), if done with a big truck the maximum is three months in jail which the concerned judge lifted to four months with a second charge.
With our usual 50 per cent discount for good behaviour in jail, he will be a free man in only two months.
The law must be urgently changed to lift this three months maximum jail sentence to three years minimum jail.
Our law is so wrong for the tragic families of the victim.
Please fix it before the next paltry three-month maximum jail sentence for killing another person.
The law should be kinder to all.
Murray Hunter, Titirangi.
Hand over fist
On one hand, the Government requires the Reserve Bank to control inflation and the only tool it appears to have in its toolbox appears to be increasing the OCR every few weeks.
On the other hand, we have that same Government fuelling inflation by spending billions of borrowed money.
Look out for the train smash.
Chester Rendell, Paihia.
