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Author	Topic: Bay Bridge celebration's $5.6 million price tag: Is it worth it?	Post a Reply Back to Topics

nraacct Champion Author North Carolina Posts:6,884 Points:1,470,000 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 3:57:53 PM Ignore nraacct Report Abuse California officials say it's important to give the public a chance to walk across the dazzling new eastern span of the Bay Bridge when it opens Labor Day weekend, even if it costs taxpayers $5.6 million. Other recent grand celebrations of public projects don't even come close. Taxpayers shelled out nothing for the Golden Gate Bridge's 75th anniversary extravaganza in 2012, an over-the-top Memorial Day weekend gala that culminated in a parade of ships and a dazzling light and fireworks show. The price tag has not been disclosed but a private foundation raised all the money. Visit Contra Costa Times for full article

nraacct

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Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 3:57:53 PM

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California officials say it's important to give the public a chance to walk across the dazzling new eastern span of the Bay Bridge when it opens Labor Day weekend, even if it costs taxpayers $5.6 million.

Other recent grand celebrations of public projects don't even come close.

Taxpayers shelled out nothing for the Golden Gate Bridge's 75th anniversary extravaganza in 2012, an over-the-top Memorial Day weekend gala that culminated in a parade of ships and a dazzling light and fireworks show. The price tag has not been disclosed but a private foundation raised all the money.

Visit Contra Costa Times for full article

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

virostek Veteran Author Virginia Posts:423 Points:90,285 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 7:11:30 AM Ignore virostek Report Abuse Why is this in a gas price site?
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:6,973 Points:2,119,340 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 6:52:17 AM Ignore remay Report Abuse Uh... a little late now to be asking the question...
DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,360 Points:1,244,300 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 10, 2013 12:32:42 PM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse Your first clue that this is a waste of money is that they weren't able to raise it privately.
Ticobird Champion Author Huntsville Posts:3,241 Points:1,117,965 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 10, 2013 9:23:05 AM Ignore Ticobird Report Abuse That sure seems excessive for a taxpayer celebration. This decision is just one example of why California's fiscal house is in so much disarray.
Alaydown Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:5,126 Points:824,595 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Feb 10, 2013 3:29:11 AM Ignore Alaydown Report Abuse This is another example of why this state is so much in debt. We have not had a balanced budget in years even though it is required by law. We are the highest taxed and 3rd highest in unemployment at 9.8 percent with real unemployment much higher than that. Only Nevada and Rhode Island are considered higher with 10.2 percent.
Vette1967 Champion Author Albany Posts:5,972 Points:1,277,725 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Feb 10, 2013 12:29:39 AM Ignore Vette1967 Report Abuse Somebody will be making money on this deal.
mfgendron All-Star Author New York Posts:689 Points:309,860 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Feb 10, 2013 12:22:01 AM Ignore mfgendron Report Abuse Too much money!
1momsunshine Champion Author Ottawa Posts:5,500 Points:1,002,530 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Feb 10, 2013 12:05:32 AM Ignore 1momsunshine Report Abuse NO!
Zing20 All-Star Author Fresno Posts:700 Points:174,070 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 11:43:27 PM Ignore Zing20 Report Abuse Why not? Gov Brown said CA is now in the black.
pgerassi Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:10,906 Points:2,133,555 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 8:57:12 PM Ignore pgerassi Report Abuse NO!
doeslayersr Champion Author Illinois Posts:9,127 Points:873,955 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 8:25:14 PM Ignore doeslayersr Report Abuse No.
MadFueler All-Star Author Winston-Salem Posts:935 Points:174,460 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 6:36:10 PM Ignore MadFueler Report Abuse It's not a waste, but a morale booster and a promotional expense.
WalkingWV Champion Author West Virginia Posts:3,701 Points:779,595 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 6:12:54 PM Ignore WalkingWV Report Abuse Colossal waste of money.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,105 Points:1,624,380 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 6:03:20 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Certainly not with all the Chinese steel it used, but then the $5.6 mil for Chinese firecrackers is a mere pittance in comparison to the staggering total cost of this Made in China replacement span. Rotsa Ruck in rush hour traffic when the first major quake hits this Chinese marvel!
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,303 Points:2,373,320 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 5:54:56 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse that whole town isnt worth 5.6 million dollars
mastermariner Champion Author Texas Posts:4,249 Points:495,675 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 5:12:22 PM Ignore mastermariner Report Abuse This is what the article does not tell you Much of the actual construction of San Francisco's new Bay Bridge was actually done in China. The bridge was then shipped to San Francisco for assembly.
doggod Champion Author Anchorage Posts:2,858 Points:743,310 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 5:04:13 PM Ignore doggod Report Abuse Of course it's worth it ... to the politicians who get to spend it without worry because it's not theirs. As long as people keep voting for crooks, they're gonna get more of the same.
wrunner Champion Author Virginia Posts:4,455 Points:1,138,535 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 4:48:53 PM Ignore wrunner Report Abuse For what it is worth, I hope it is worth it.
tnfran Champion Author Arizona Posts:4,388 Points:844,140 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 4:02:29 PM Ignore tnfran Report Abuse And for a state that is broke to do this???
schvanda63 Champion Author Lansing Posts:1,322 Points:265,715 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2013 4:02:07 PM Ignore schvanda63 Report Abuse And they wonder why their financially in the hole?