For years Plattsburgh City has cut its budget due to rising costs and out-of-control spending. Back in 2007 there was no parade or fireworks on the 4th of July. That year the fireworks were moved up to the Mayor's Cup event, relocated to the city beach where there was a fee of $5.00 a carload. In 2009 the city council voted to lay off two MLD (Municipal Lighting Department) workers. Tough times.
So while the city skipped the 4th of July in 2007, it still puts up a plethora of Xmas wreaths on downtown streetlights. That fact leads to some questions:
1. How much cost and time are involved with installing and taking down the wreaths?
2. What are the benefits of the wreaths? Do they attract more shoppers downtown? After all, if the city is truly on a tight budget, "They look pretty" by itself is a dubious benefit.
3. Why so many have to be put up? Would anyone notice if half of them were missing? Or would people notice if none were installed as compared to no parade and no fireworks for the 4th of July?
4. Instead of screwing around with Xmas wreaths, how about fixing that damn roof leak in the Public Library?
Can you imagine the howling of the city union if the wreaths were eliminated? Denise Nephew would be all over it.
ReplyDeleteNo one goes downtown to shop anyway. Whats the purpose?
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