The Town of Erie's Mayor announced just recently that Erie CO is receiving money in Obama's Porkulus package.
Now ask yourself the question, what would Erie (a small prairie town) just east of Boulder need from Porkulus?
Erie is now, thanks to sprawling out of control development simply a dormitory town. Old Town Erie is all that remains of the soul of this small prairie mining town. The railroad is still jealously guarded by the railroad company, but the track is inoperable. Businesses that struggle to exist are really services and businesses in support of its dormitory status (supermarkets, restaurants, banks etc.)
So what would Erie need from Porkulus that would satisfy the act's core requirements of stabilizing the economy, providing more jobs, and stabilizing state and local governments?
A bike lane.
Let me repeat that in case you think I am joking.
The Town of Erie is getting approx. $733,000 in Porkulus money to build a bike lane both North and South on a road of approx 3 miles that links the I-25 to the town of Erie, and for the most part this road drives through farmer's fields. We worked out that the proposed bike lane at its current price tag would cost approx $733K for approximately 6 miles of road (for both North bound and South bound) at $122K per mile.
We are still waiting to hear what the brain trust that makes up Erie local government thinks that this is going to actually help Erie's local economy. Exactly how many jobs will this create? And will the jobs come from the local community? Will 3/4 of a million dollars help Erie taxpayers (who are facing increased taxes as a result of out of control development and "sprawl") from having to pay additional taxes?
You know, I just don't know. I think I need Erie's brain trust to explain this to me.
And politicians (of BOTH PARTIES) just because you can, doesn't mean you should.