I realized I've watched too many cheerleading movies with my youngest daughter when the first thought that came to me after reading parts of today's Toledo Blade was:
I've got bridge pride, yes I do! I've got bridge pride, how bout you!
I completely understand the safety aspect which requires working lights on the High Level bridge. Here's my problem though and it's one that is repeatedly played out over and over again in our fair city. The failure of these lights did not just happen over night.
For most of us when we know we have a large list of items that need to be done, we prioritize. We do the projects that are the most important first then, we do the other items as our budget allows us to. Just this summer $38,340 was spent on decorative lighting, I'm sure the lighting issue with the High Level bridge was known then, or at least it should have been known. Things do deteriorate as they age, but it would really be nice to see some long term planning as far as required repairs such as the lighting for the High Level bridge. Not only does planning make good fiscal sense but it would also help cut down on some of the discussion that happens when these items come before City Council. Rather than hearing as quoted in the Blade by Frank Szollosi:
"Don't we have all the bridge pride we can possibly handle right now?"
We'd hear:
"Yes, this item is on our list of repairs that need to be completed and it has a higher priority than..."
While it would be nice if someone like the Blade did donate the funds as was done 21 years ago, and if the unions once again donated some of the necessary materials, even doing something such as trying to coordinate private fundraising for a project like this needs planning...
:-)
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7 comments:
I don't know much about the high level bridge and it's birth - I hope that when the all new bridge opens up with all its' glory that five to ten years later it doesn't become a second high level bridge project that gets pushed down the list giving other projects priorities like colored lights or bike paths or heck even color lighted bike paths - Now that would be neat to see.
Lisa- that 'emergency decorative lighting' for Jackson St. probably was the death knell of future lighting like this.
Hey you know what, dem, I totally forgot the "emergency" tag that project had. Hmmm I wonder what would it take to make the bridge's lights to be an "emergency"? I hope nothing bad.
From the October 7th City Journal:
AN ORDINANCE NO. 676-06 AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION AND EXPENDITURE OF $90,000 FROM THE UNAPPROPRIATED BALANCE OF THE 2006 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND TO THE DIVISION OF STREETS, BRIDGES AND HARBOR, ANTHONY WAYNE BRIDGE LIGHTS; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO PREPARE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND AFTER DUE ADVERTISING ACCORDING TO LAW, ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS AND AWARD CONTRACTS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO UNDERTAKE ANTHONY WAYNE BRIDGE LIGHTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $90,000 FROM THE 2006 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, ANTHONY WAYNE BRIDGE LIGHTS; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
sorry for the all caps that's the way it's written in the City Journal.
link
"Long-term planning seems to be a major issue in city council and the Toledo government as a whole."
Which is all too apparent if we look around and see the bric-a-brac look of the city. Vacant lots, vacant buildings, vacancies in industrial areas, downtown areas, etc.
The leaders of the city need to look beyond the automotive industry and work together on a coordinated plan to move forward.
But then again there is no community development leader in a position to do that for now.
Bob Vasquez is on record with long term planning among his priorities and has consistently stayed with that point as ultimately necessary.
And using taxpayer's money toprovide basic city services before anything else.
See bobvasquez.info
”I completely understand the safety aspect which requires working lights on the High Level bridge.”
Whenever the City wants to do something, for any reason, they make sure that the officials “in charge” always say the right things, always…
”The failure of these lights did not just happen over night.”
Betty is right. She knows that the City is notorious for NO maintenance, and for replacing with new, instead of maintaining pretty much everything.
”For most of us when we know we have a large list of items that need to be done, we prioritize.”
The City does things according to Charlatan’s priority list, not what makes sense.
”We do the projects that are the most important first then, we do the other items as our budget allows us to.”
The City does what Charlatan wants, right now, and don’t bother to tell him why it can’t be done “now.”
”Just this summer $38,340 was spent on decorative lighting, I'm sure the lighting issue with the High Level bridge was known then, or at least it should have been known. Things do deteriorate as they age, but it would really be nice to see some long term planning as far as required repairs such as the lighting for the High Level bridge. Not only does planning make good fiscal sense but it would also help cut down on some of the discussion that happens when these items come before City Council.”
But it wasn’t Charlatan’s priority then.
Speaking about deteriorating with age, how old is the Charlatan these days?
As for planning, how could anyone plan when everything is decreed by “Short attention span Charlatan?”
Isn’t this short attention span symptomatic of something medical?
”While it would be nice if someone like the Blade did donate the funds as was done 21 years ago…”
The blade, do something good for Toledo? You’ve GOT to be kidding. When the blade wants something in Toledo to take pride in, they just pull the Charlatan’s strings….
Normally I’m not this cynical, really; it’s just that I’ve been watching this very poorly written soap opera for way too long to see the brighter side. . .
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