If parking were nominally "free", it would be even more difficult to find a parking spot. Right now, parking is inexpensive, at fifty cents per hour during normal business hours and it's still very difficult to find a parking spot. This is the number 2 reason why I don't visit Royal Oak. The number 1 reason is a preponderance of douchebags.
In 2009, the State of Michigan spent approximately $12M for a national advertising campaign to promote tourism to Michigan, called Pure Michigan. Currently, the State legislature is considering reducing the funding for the program to only $5M for 2010.
At my office, a few months ago they discontinued styro-foam cups, which means I have to remember to bring in a coffee mug each morning, even if I don't prepare a cup of home brew.
