“(Same title as Petula Clark’s hit. By the way, I still like to listen to the old song. The woman could sing.)”

If I have heard the question asked once, I have heard it a hundred times. “Why can’t we get people to come to our wonderful downtown area?”

Well, I’ll answer for myself, and I’d guess it will be something of a representation.

1. It’s too hard to get there. I’m talking over an hour of frustrating traffic.
2. I can never find a place to park. If I do, it costs a fiver to plant my vehicle for a few hours. Oh, and by the way, I still walk another mile, maybe more. Then of course I must return to my car while already exhausted.
3. It’s dangerous, you know. It’s dangerous getting there, while there, and dangerous coming back. I am starting to feel more concerned about my safety in Memphis than when I was in Da Nang. Who wants to bring a family or date into an environment like that?
4. Then there is the big reason. Nothing there worth the effort.

Having said this, obviously, my opinion does not represent everyone. I don’t know if it is courage or lack of common sense. I mean I’m hardly the only one who prefers staying clear of the area.