Arizona Republic: “The federal government has strong interest in extending Mesa’s light-rail line 2 miles beyond its currently planned terminus, Mayor Scott Smith said this week. . . . One problem: Funding.”
Arizona Republic: “The [State of Arizona] deficit for the current budget year has grown to $825 million, up from $700 million, and the projected hole for the next fiscal year has deepened by $400 million, to $1.4 billion.”
From the we don’t have the money and the debt isn’t ours so we can spend other people’s money go deeper into debt department. “A new urban skate park has been approved for Margaret T. Hance Park near downtown Phoenix but it won’t allow bike riders.” I’ll give the city fathers the benefit of the doubt and assume that the city powers believe that a very large percentage of the city’s residents of all ages will be bringing their boards and in-lines to the park to hang with their homies and praise the wisdom of the city’s leaders – Not! Notice that the story does not mention how much money the city will pay.
What I fear is that a city that spends money like there is no tomorrow and without regard to whether it has the money will create the ultimate money pit – light rail. Oh yeah. I forgot. Phoenix already did that.
Arizona Republic: “It’s not that downtown Phoenix is a ghost town. . . . But few people linger. The city hopes to change that on Friday. With a bowling alley.” Here’s my favorite part of the story:
“In Phoenix, city officials and CityScape developers hope the bowl-o-rama will anchor the $900 million project with work lunches, evening corporate events and late nights out for 25- to 45-year-olds.”
What will Phoenix do next to revitalize jump-start downtown Phoenix night life – open a bocce ball facility or a bridge / canasta parlor?
Update: Pipe dreams for a vibrant commercial downtown Phoenix meet reality – “Two downtown Phoenix restaurants close.” The now defunct downtown Phoenix restaurants are Downtown Sports Grill near Washington and Second streets and Carmine’s Little Italy.
I can hear Phoenix city leaders saying “Deficit? What deficit?” Arizona Republic: “Skateboarders will have a fifth plaza to roll up and down ramps in Phoenix, city officials said Tuesday.” The story does not mention how much the park will cost. Perhaps the city leaders consider skateboard parks as just another form of the much loved mass transportation money pit.