Councilman Doug Hawkins suggests that the Mayor should be more fiscally responsible. Instead of lining the downtown district with granite curbs or subsidizing housing for the rich (Museum Plaza), perhaps, the Mayor should concentrate on reducing overtime costs and allocating the necessary funds to improve the library system!
Solid granite street curbs now replace the standard concrete curbs on 6th Street from River Road to West Jefferson Street. The granite street curb installation project calls into question the Mayor's priorities. Councilman Doug Hawkins challenges the Mayor's decision to use such an expensive material, at a time in which "it is imperative that we take steps now to reduce spending."
"How can the Mayor say that there is no money for the libraries, when the Mayor has money to burn on his downtown street curbs," Hawkins asks?
It is obvious that granite curbs cost far more than standard concrete would. These are two examples of our mayor's spending priorities being out of step with the community.
Is the administration more interested in building our downtown curbs with granite rather than making the brick-and-mortar improvements needed for our libraries?