Now Here's A Real Waste Of Taxpayer Money
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
November 22, 2008 12:56am CST
Not too long ago, one of the famous bridges here in the NYC area was renamed from the Triborough Bridge to the RFK Bridge in honor of Robert F. Kennedy, the brother to President Kennedy and of whom both were assassinated. Well, okay I have no problem with that...a nice way of commemorating someone as important as Robert Kennedy and unfortunately was taken away ruthlessly in the prime of his life by an assassins' bullet
But now it's deemed necessary to change ALL the signs that formerly said Triborough Bridge to RFK Bridge to the tune of $4 Million dollars...like Huh? And of course the $4 million is taxpayer money
To me this is so ludicrous. With the economy the way it is, I think there's a lot better means of spending $4 million dollars than changing the names of signs..why not put that money for or toward health care, school/education?? Don't we the citizens get a chance to vote on how taxpayer money is to be spent? For better needs than this?
And okay,...this might sound tacky...but there are so many members of the Kennedy clan...like sheesh..why don't they chip in for the costs??
Here's an article about it
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/to-rename-triborough-for-rfk-4-million/
{warning: This is NOT a referral link but a link about the article about the RFK Bridge}
5 people like this
17 responses
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Nov 08
Yup with the Kennedy millions they could offer to pay for those signs
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
22 Nov 08
You're right. That's a waste. I never thought much about this, but the same thing must happen any time they change the name of a street, highway or bridge.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Nov 08
This is really lousy timing though with the way the economy is I think, don't you?
@sconibear (8016)
• United States
22 Nov 08
sheeeeeesh!
i'll remake all the signs including materials for 1 million dollars.
please pass this information along to your local politicians, i could use the work.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
23 Nov 08
Unfortunately I don't think these dumba$$ decisions are given to the people to vote on..and you're right this money could have been used instead for some kind of scholarship funding instead
@PrincessKitten (790)
• United States
26 Nov 08
If you know for sure that this wasn't offered up for voting, you can petition to have it voted on.
We did that in my town. They were going to spend ungodly amounts of money on giving the town-hall a facelift and didn't put it to a vote. We signed a petition and got to vote on it.
I'm not sure how it's done exaclty but there has to be some sort of voter's rights council in your area, or an activist group of some sort. Do some searches, you'll probably be surprised at what you find.
Also, if your town/city has a web presence (www.nameofyourtown.com) they'll probably have a government link there. That would be some place to start at least.
Good luck and...
Happy MyLotting!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Nov 08
Well I'll definitely look into this but we're talking about New York city area..so I don't know if this was exactly a city type thing or state thing that made this ludicrous decision to be made..If anything I could maybe even email the governor or New York state AND our yutz of a mayor ..Bloomberg..or as my friend calls him...Doomsberg..LOL
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Nov 08
PS--Just sent an email to the governor, our mayor and one of our senators (who happen to be none other than Hillary Clinton)...LOL..will look further into this tomorrow..uh, kind a late now..it's only 2:59 a.m. here and really think I need to switch the computer off...heehee
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Nov 08
Yes there are so many other programs that need the money more..in fact on the news the other night they said due to budget cuts they were going to close down homeless shelters here..and yet they want to spend $4 million just on signs..that sure doesn't make sense
@reinydawn (11642)
• United States
22 Nov 08
It is pretty wild how something that on the surface looks very good is in fact pretty bad. They had to do the same thing here when they changed the name of BWI airport to Thurgood Marshall a year or so ago. Or, MANY years ago, probably within 6 months of making this new road they renamed it. That was confusing and sometimes I still call it the old name - it's been changed for about 15 years or so...
We never "think" about the expense side of things, only that "yeah, it sounds like a nice way to commerorate someone."
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11642)
• United States
23 Nov 08
I totally agree. It's like the get us coming and going... They could have spent a lot less by just putting up tape over the names for now and spent the money where it really needs to be spent. Sometimes I wonder if us little people should start running for office! We seem to know more than the politicians!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
23 Nov 08
With the economic things are their really is/was a better way to spend $4 million dollars though. As I pointed out elsewhere here, I just heard today for instance, that a lot of homeless shelters are going to be forced to shut down due in the NYC area due to lack of funds....like, isn't providing shelters for the homeless more important than changing the names of signs?
1 person likes this
@CinderInMySoul (4717)
• United States
22 Nov 08
$4 million to change the signs? how many signs could there be?
i agree that it is a nice way to commemorate a person, but like you said, there are a LOT of other things $4 million could go to!
with the economy in the sh*tter, why the hell are the "bigwigs" wanting to do that NOW?! doesnt make any sense at all.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
23 Nov 08
Some weeks ago, our Governor initiated plans for drastic budget cuts statewide for health care, education and funds for firemen/police, yet seems to think $4 million for name sign changes is better....go figure
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
23 Nov 08
LOL--he probably spends $4 million a year on his drinks..heehee
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
24 Nov 08
..and yet everybody probably still calls it triborough.
i know people who would get lost if they didn't.
4 million.holy poop.
they did that up here to one of our bridges-changed the name,didn't ask anybody first,and then wanted to name it verrazano-like the other bridge,confused everybody,and had to change it to something else,at the cost of 2 sets of signs.
but yes,that money could definetly be better spent.
i don't think any state bothers asking the people anymore.
@4mymak (1793)
• Malaysia
25 Nov 08
no arguing that the signs need to be changed, but..
$4million to replace 139 signs.. that's average 28thousand dollars per sign... ?
wow.. does it really cost that much to do the job?
do they replace the whole signboard, or do they just paint over the existing signboard ?
@littleowl (7157)
•
26 Dec 08
Hi Pye I am in total agreement with you. The governments everywhere say we are in a bad shape economically wise but then using all that money for idiotic things like the Trilborough Bridge is totally insane,,there are plenty more things that need the money...bb littleowl
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
26 Dec 08
Well, I could see your point. I do agree with you on that. It is also happening here in our country. In fact it is even worst. Well, I do hope our lawmakers will realize that it is the taxpayers money they are wasting. They should come up with something that will benefit the many and not the few. 
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
22 Nov 08
Hi pye~When I first heard this plan to rename the bridge I
couldn't believe what I was hearing. While this is a lovely
sentiment why now? With the economy in such a mess what on
earth prompted this decision all of a sudden? People are not
going to even remember to call it by it's new name since it
has been known as the Triboro Bridge for so many years! Why
is it so important now to change it's name in the middle of
an economic crisis? It couldn't wait? It has waited all these
years? What politician decided that this is the time to do
this at this particular time? I'm sure if people were asked
if they thought that this was necessary they would say what?
It is a wonderful tribute, but why now? That money could go
to so many more important things! I'm sure RFK would certainly
agree! I would hope that someone from his family would step
forward and say something to this affect!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
23 Nov 08
Unfortunately the Kennedy family thinks this idea is "wonderful" and even some of them appeared at the official renaming ceremony...so they are just as bad as whichever politician thought this scheme up..could have been either our Governor, or Mayor Bloomsberg...or as my friend calls him... Doomsberg..LOL
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
23 Nov 08
At least they say it belongs to taxpayers money. We spend too much in country recession for nothing. It looks like rich people want to keep us underwater.
How are we going to survive? Could we take care of our people first?
@Savvynlady (3684)
• United States
23 Nov 08
It seems to me, they already charge a toll to get on the darn bridge; I know they do cause I'm from up there. If they gonna do that, get a percentage from them toll monies they get from the folks going back and forth on that bridge Yes, if the Kennedy's want to chip in say half of that, fine. but then again, that's on them to do IF they want to do it.
@BarBaraPrz (51819)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
22 Nov 08
Hey! I have an idea... why not, when they catch taggers at their tricks, instead of just arresting them, get them to change the name on the existing signs?
