City lays off fire fighters but buys artwork, foreign artwork, for $850.000

[Zebo]

http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/13219

Lunatics are running the asylum.

 

[RPD]

Yes, and you mean $850,000.

 

[Pulsar]

The sad part is, that instead of that sculpture they could put in timed and musical water fountains that kids can play in, or any one of hundreds of other FUNCTIONAL yet artistic items.

Fuckers.

 

[feralkid]

"The city has the money to do it because in 2007, it agreed to set aside for public art 1 percent of money that went into capital improvement projects that were $100,000 or larger."

Christ almighty people, artists need to earn a living, just as much as firemen.

 

[BoberFett]

"The city has the money to do it because in 2007, it agreed to set aside for public art 1 percent of money that went into capital improvement projects that were $100,000 or larger."

Christ almighty people, artists need to earn a living, just as much as firemen.

German artists?

This country is clueless. The word "priorities" has been lost.

 

[manimal]

What part of they were required to do it because of past commitments do you not understand people?

ZOMG the outrage!

What would the founding fathers think of this?

 

[Red Dawn]

What part of they were required to do it because of past commitments do you not understand people?

ZOMG the outrage!

What would the founding fathers think of this?

The Founding Fathers didn't think much of Hessians.

 

[PeshakJang]

What part of they were required to do it because of past commitments do you not understand people?

So if I start saving for a vacation, and then two years later I lose my job, I can't use my vacation fund for groceries?

 

[kranky]

I would think if they passed a law to set aside money for art, they could pass a law to change it.

And I have no problem with artists earning a living, just not on taxpayer dollars.

 

[boomerang]

I saw this somewhere and didn't read past the headline. I had no idea it was in my state. Ann Arbor - the epitome of a liberal college town. Makes perfect sense now.

Kunselman said the city is also eliminating the solid waste coordinator from the budget, which oversees trash pickup, and hiring an art coordinator.

It will be interesting to see if they come to their senses. My guess would be they've already determined the money is being spent on the highest and best use.

We're going down after California and New York. We'll more than likely have a Republican running the state after November so a convenient scape goat will be available. I wish there was a Chris Christie clone on the ballot. Primaries are coming up in a few weeks.

 

[dfuze]

So if I start saving for a vacation, and then two years later I lose my job, I can't use my vacation fund for groceries?

But they didn't use it for something essential like groceries (from your example)

They hired an art coordinator, but with current budgets, how likely are they to afford art for them to coordinate?

 

[MotF Bane]

So in addition to this, get rid of the trash coordinator, replace him with the art coordinator? An excellent politician's plan - eliminate essentials, continue spending on pet projects.

 

[PeshakJang]

But they didn't use it for something essential like groceries (from your example)

They hired an art coordinator, but with current budgets, how likely are they to afford art for them to coordinate?

I think you misunderstand my point... the groceries in this case would be the firemen and other essential services. Basically arguing against the, "they already appropriated the funds" argument.

 

[PeshakJang]

So in addition to this, get rid of the trash coordinator, replace him with the art coordinator? An excellent politician's plan - eliminate essentials, continue spending on pet projects.

... " the solid waste coordinator position was eliminated as a cost-cutting measure because the solid waste millage had decreased."

They cut the bullshit coordinator, even though they are still waist-deep in it.

 

[rudder]

Sound's like our democratic governor here in Tennessee. State employee raises? No... but we do need to renovate the governors mansion and build an underground reception hall even though there is more than enough commercial space available in Nashville.

 

[nobodyknows]

"The city has the money to do it because in 2007, it agreed to set aside for public art 1 percent of money that went into capital improvement projects that were $100,000 or larger."

Christ almighty people, artists need to earn a living, just as much as firemen.

Tell that to the guy who's waiting for the firemen to arrive while his house is burning.

 

[waggy]

they are doing something similar to a town near me. they laid off a bunch of fireman yet are building a "walkway" from downtown (wich is dead) to well nowhere. the walkway is between 2 buildings and there is nothing behind them.

its covered, heated, and a bunch of other stuff. the cost is something like $350k for a 100ft.

the city is also buying up property like crazy downtown and tearing down the buildings. They are also spending a few million on redoing the front of the buildings that are there (and privataly owned).

something like 60% of the budget is for downtown wich is dead. well there is a adult bookstore (they tried to close down) and 2 bars.

 

[jpeyton]

Fraser noted that the public art dollars did not come from the city's general fund, which is used to pay salaries and benefits, and that less than $6,000 of the art money came from the general fund.

Question 1: how many firefighters can you hire for less than $6,000?

Question 2: can you guys read?

 

[nick1985]

they are doing something similar to a town near me. they laid off a bunch of fireman yet are building a "walkway" from downtown (wich is dead) to well nowhere. the walkway is between 2 buildings and there is nothing behind them.

its covered, heated, and a bunch of other stuff. the cost is something like $350k for a 100ft.

the city is also buying up property like crazy downtown and tearing down the buildings. They are also spending a few million on redoing the front of the buildings that are there (and privataly owned).

something like 60% of the budget is for downtown wich is dead. well there is a adult bookstore (they tried to close down) and 2 bars.

Dont forget about the ice rink they just tore down. What a fucking waste of money that was.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Question 1: how many firefighters can you hire for less than $6,000?

Question 2: can you guys read?

Why am I NOT surprised that you completely missed the point?

 

[waggy]

Dont forget about the ice rink they just tore down. What a fucking waste of money that was.

oh yeah. that great ice rink...it was always empty. why? the fucking lagoon is 3 blocks away and FREE!


edit; oh yeah. about the ice rink. it was put in because one of the guys on the towns concil wanted it. it was voted down (original plans for it was like a million). but he kept at it and eventually it passed. they put in a 25x40 ft ice rink (or so its fucking tiny) for $380k+ purchasing the property $75k

part of putting it in was that the company running it would hire local kids to run it. nope the company hired the owners son (oddly there are rumors of the company being owned by a friend of the guy on the town council..). they then fudged the numbers and claimed that 3k people came and they made money.

the local paper did a report and found they were counting everyone that came 3 times and they counted anyone that came to look at it. They also found ti LOST a ton of money.

so they shut it down. so the city wasted a 100 grand on a ice rink wich is about the size of a driveway for one fucking season.

edit: did a little looking and found my numbers were off

 

[nick1985]

oh yeah. that great ice rink...it was always empty. why? teh fucking lagoon is 3 blocks away and FREE!

They should have left that shitty ice-rink and told the gangs to have their shootouts there.

 

[nick1985]

oh yeah. that great ice rink...it was always empty. why? the fucking lagoon is 3 blocks away and FREE!


edit; oh yeah. about the ice rink. it was put in because one of the guys on the towns concil wanted it. it was voted down (original plans for it was like a million). but he kept at it and eventually it passed. they put in a 25x40 ft ice rink (or so its fucking tiny) for $380k+ purchasing the property $75k

part of putting it in was that the company running it would hire local kids to run it. nope the company hired the owners son (oddly there are rumors of the company being owned by a friend of the guy on the town council..). they then fudged the numbers and claimed that 3k people came and they made money.

the local paper did a report and found they were counting everyone that came 3 times and they counted anyone that came to look at it. They also found ti LOST a ton of money.

so they shut it down. so the city wasted a 100 grand on a ice rink wich is about the size of a driveway for one fucking season.

edit: did a little looking and found my numbers were off

I honeslty dont know how you can stand to live there anymore. DeKalb went downhill so fast. You should move to Sycamore.

 

[waggy]

I honeslty dont know how you can stand to live there anymore. DeKalb went downhill so fast. You should move to Sycamore.

i moved out of town. i now live between dekalb and rockford. i still have friends and family in town and keep up with what is going on. I wish i would have moved out of Dekalb county though.

sycamore is a lot better. but the tax's are getting high there also but at least they don't do the stupid crap dekalb is. though at least dekalb is not building the water park they wanted. yeah! the town's funds suck so bad we are going to lay off fire fighters and close down a department. but hell! lets build a 5-10 million dollar water park! even though magic waters is 30 minutes away!

 

[Exterous]

I saw this somewhere and didn't read past the headline. I had no idea it was in my state. Ann Arbor - the epitome of a liberal college town. Makes perfect sense now.

Yeah no suprise there. It's the same city that spent thousands of dollars completely redoing a 4 lane road with traffic congestion and turned it into a 2 lane road with 2 bike lanes. I see ones of bikers on it and hundreds of cars in a giant traffic jam on my way to work. Maybe next they can redo Washtenaw a few more times

I am sure more than a few people in Ann Arbor would rather spend the money on art than firefighters