So I just took a look at my top and immediately found some peculiarities. First off my straps were not velcroed together, but rather sewn. I couldn't detach them. I circled in yellow the strap im talking about.
Second, the strap on BOTH sides was not wrapped around the black tube. So I was faced with the option of taking apart the top to slip the strap around the tube since they cant be separated like regular velcro or cut the strap and like someone mentioned earlier staple it back together.
Being a go for it kind of guy i cut the straps and stapled them back together once i had wrapped them around the tube. Keep in mind this only worked because the other end of the strap was still sewn to the top. Now the top comes down perfect. Success!