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Originally Posted by jammies
Exactly. Where were all you fiscal watchdogs when Bronco went crazy building roads and interchanges everywhere? Why didn't I see umpteen threads belittling the design of the new Stoney Trail interchanges? This whole anti-bridge brouhaha is like the feel-bad story of the summer - much manufactured rage and fury over infrastructure spending that is no different than any other, except that the city made the mistake of thinking people would be proud to have a bridge designed by someone who is well-known across the world, instead of Joe High-School or Jane Corporate Box.
If Calgary is to become a world-class city, the parochial attitude has to go. The more different architectural influences we can take advantage of, the better in the long run - there is a place for local talent (as the second bridge will demonstrate) but there should also be a place and a desire to engage the best of the world.
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Part of it is the timing of it. This bridge came as city hall delivered a bloated budget and raised taxes. The message being sent to the public continues to be - we can't control our spending. Examples:
- The Bridge
- The artwork at the water treatment facility
- The purchase of the Cecil
- The gym at City Hall.
When forced to trim the budget City Hall merely moved cash around in the books to manufacture a decrease.
Again - the bridge is not the issue - it's just the issue people have issued to focus on the larger problem of overspending....at a time when the economy isn't good at all.
If this council could demonstrate an ability to set priorities, and manage a budget I wouldn't have a problem with this bridge.