Downtown towing on New Year's looks fishy

Thoughts regarding the towing of cars in Whitefish on New Year's Eve night (actually after midnight):

You can bet this didn't happen by chance. Yes, at times the signs clearly state cars need to be gone from 2-6 a.m. Yes, most nights there is no plowing.

Yes, it looks fishy that the towing and plowing was scheduled for New Year's Eve night. It must have involved holiday overtime pay since the work was done after midnight, therefore on Jan. 1, a legal holiday.

Yes, it compounds the appearance that it was a conscious decision to tow on the night before a day when most shops were closed.

Yes, if the city was just concerned about snow removal, the next night would have found fewer if any cars left on the street 'shops were closed during the day, bar patron numbers are lower after every big night out).

Yes, it appears whoever decided this was the night to tow and plow did it with a special agenda and by design. Hopefully, lesson learned.

If up to me, I'd do just the opposite. I'd advertise that on this and Halloween night, the city of Whitefish allows you to leave your car parked on the street overnight. Drinkers should have someone else provide a safe ride. (Now, let's get a taxi service.)

To the administrators who authorized "tow for dough" that night, this could have been better thought out. The next night would have been a better choice.

And a good PR opportunity was missed by not suggesting we allow drivers to leave their cars on the street overnight. Comments could have been made about how our friendly police would have cruised Central often enough to keep the cars relatively safe.

Result: Whitefish is not only endeared to those that would participate, the general valley public would learn what a thoughtful community we are. "Let's go shop and recreate in Whitefish, The Thoughtful Town." Well, maybe not that sticky sweet, but you get the idea.

Bill Milner lives in Whitefish.