Suggestions...

... for the Capital Improvement Board (CIB).

We read with some awe the glowing report in this morning's paper about the addition to the Lucas Oil Palace of $11,000,000 worth of television screens to make game re-plays more acceptable to the fans seated in the stadium.  The article gave us a couple of ideas. 

It really is unthinkable that we force these people to drive through traffic problems and pay exorbitant parking fees when they will be required to suffer through the game with so many minor amenities in the stadium.  We think the CIB should consider chartering limos and taxis to transport these poor unfortunates to and from the stadium - at the expense of the taxpayer, of course.

We would also suggest that the Colts be allowed to name a few downtown restaurants and bars (for a fee, naturally) as official NFL/Colts associates for the purpose of providing fan socializing facilities.  For a set number of hours before and after game time, to be determined by the Colts, the tab for all food and beverages would be payable by the CIB.  A percentage of this figure would, as one might expect, go to the Colts.

When we write these posts, our beloved spouse of more than 50 years reads them prior to publishing.  She does not approve of excess sarcasm or extreme irony.  She's not overly pleased with this one.  But what really puts her off is the thought that someone downtown might take us seriously and put the ideas into effect!

They wouldn't really do that, would they?  Really, now, would they?

Of course, they just might.  If one stops to think of the amount - and purpose - of this expenditure, and the fact that it is a "don't-give-a-damn" over-run of $2,500,000 from original estimates, who knows?  With the city in the throes of a serious fiscal crisis, two questions just jump right out at us.  1.  Why are they spending  taxpayer dollars this way?  2.  Why is the paper so d....d happy about it?

Will the insanity never cease?

Comments

[Leslie Baker]

I was going to say what a wise woman once told me: "ask me no questions and I will tell you no lies," but that applies only to your last sentence. ;-)

The wise woman obviously didn't foresee this kind of political hocus-pocus permeating the local government when she made her (mostly?) facetious comment in times past.

[Bart Lies]

I'm bothered (a lot) by the fact this money comes out of the 'contingency fund' which is supposed to cover emergencies and unforseen problems. TVs are neither.

What we have here is just another hidden cost reaching the light of day. It's 10 million they shaved off the initial 'bill of goods' instead of being honest with the taxpayers.

[Hmmmm...]

The State has made many public complaints about the cost of keeping the bean company in place after a tidal wave of voter sentiment demanded the company stay.

Memory, with the help of trusty google, reminds me that the overrun for these TV's is more than the State paid the Hurst's for the land they did take from them. The total spent also appears to be more than 3 times what the State offered to buy the entire property.

Those must be some nice TV's.

[SOS]

The answer is your question is no.