In the past we’ve berated the local daily paper for not asking questions about downtown goings on. This morning’s front page story about the Georgia Street fiasco actually does ask one.
"Now do you want to change the name?"
In a word, "NO!" In two words, "HELL NO!!"
We’re supposed to be bemused by the suggestion that some 30 memorial columns will be erected memorializing and honoring "great" Hoosiers. No word as to who will name the honorees.
The whole $12.5 million turkey has been oriented around sports generally and the Super Bowl specifically. Apparently the so-called Super Bowl Host Committee has enough spare change lying around to volunteer to pay for half of this belated amendment to the over-all boondoggle.
We have to wonder whether dragging in non-sports related famous Hoosiers is a second thought resulting from the opposition to the whole project. One name being mentioned is Benjamin Harrison. Did he ever kick a last second field goal to beat the Chicago Bears? Did he ever make an overtime three pointer to knock off the Chicago Bulls?
The mayor thinks it is embarrassing to have the street named after another state. Does he lose sleep because the City-County Building is partially framed by Delaware and Alabama Streets? Does he feel the anguish of those folks who live on cross-town thoroughfares named New York and Michigan streets? (And Michigan Street doesn’t even run north-south! Oh, the shame!)
We happen to think municipal shame more correctly should be directed at policies which allow these multi-million dollar expenditures of public funds on short-lived "cotton candy" for visitors while appropriate support for public libraries and public transportation, we are told, require the enactment of huge new taxes.
No, we don’t want to change the name of the street. We only hope the entire project does not become a permanent drain on the taxpayer, to become known as "Union Station all over again."
I second your "hell, no!" and raise you one.
Posted by: Leslie Baker | October 01, 2011 at 01:43 PM