Found Money, Spent Money and New Parks

Every time our neighbors across the river announce job cuts for lack of money to pay salaries or they are discontinuing roadside cleanup to save money (everyone knows that by Masters the roadsides will be pristine) or they are raising rates on public transit because the smart thing to do is raise rates on those that can least afford it; I cringe. My thoughts automatically go to the deal between our two cities, you know, the one where we give them our money. True to form a few months pass and wow, they have once again found money they were not aware they had but that money is going to pay for two new pods on the county jail and the new Judicial Center. Do not worry because they will find more they always do. However it still makes me wonder why we would want to go into any partnership of any kind with a group that never knows where its money is. One example of their fabulous insight is the Reynolds Street project. They “borrowed” money from the Fire Department retirement fund to purchase the land at 5th and Reynolds because some big corporation was going to buy it and build high priced condos or some such nonsense. The land is still bare, the fire funds have not been repaid, hey, the fire department doesn’t need it or so they say, and yet, we still partner with them.
Another thing I find amusing is General Motors begging for money. In their ads for cars on television they are assuring the buying public that they have millions in finance funds. If that is true why do they need Middle America’s money to operate? Oh, right, jet fuel is expensive and heaven forbid that a corporate big wig have to fly commercial with the rest of us common folk. The television reporters keep saying how ticked off American’s are with the lack of accountability in the bailouts. If we are so ticked why are we not doing something about it?
On my way to feed the abandoned cats at the Halls I noticed signs I had not seen before pointing to Brick Pond Park. After feeding the cats I drove down to get a look and was very surprised at the work that had taken place behind the new Municipal building. I could not, however, distinguish the brick pond from the others but it did not matter; it was all so intriguing. The covered bridges, the walk ways, the joining of the Greenway were all amazing. The thing that fascinated me the most was the huge piece of ancient equipment under a shed by the road. I have no clue what is once was but I was very glad it had not been destroyed. So often progress does not leave room for the past.