U.S. gives Anchorage $1.5M for bus stop (a gift from Uncle Ted Stevens)

[LynneSin]

So we have veterans that have no health care (along with like 40millions americans) and we're giving Anchorage Alaska a fucking 1.5million bus stop? What, are they making it out of fricking gold & diamonds or something

:grr:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EXPENSIVE_BUS_STOP?SITE=DEWIL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

U.S. gives Anchorage $1.5M for bus stop

By MARY PEMBERTON
Associated Press Writer

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Tom Wilson is faced with a problem many city administrators would envy: How to spend $1.5 million on a bus stop.

Wilson, Anchorage's director of public transportation, has all that money for a new and improved bus stop outside the Anchorage Museum of History and Art thanks to Republican Sen. Ted Stevens - fondly referred to by Alaskans as "Uncle Ted" for his prodigious ability to secure federal dollars for his home state.

Wilson is prepared to think big.

The bus stop there now is a simple steel-and-glass, three-sided enclosure. Wilson wants better lighting and seating. He also likes the idea of heated sidewalks that would remain free of snow and ice. And he thinks electronic signs would be nice.

"It is going to be a showpiece stop," Wilson said.

He acknowledges the money has put him in an awkward position.

"We have a senator that gave us that money and I certainly won't want to appear ungrateful," he said. At the same time, he does not want the public to think the city is wasting the money. So "if it only takes us $500,000 to do it, that's what we will spend."

[trotsky]

1. Where are the Republicans decrying "government waste"?

Fucking hypocrites.

[LynneSin]

2. They want it to be aesthetically pleasing to match the nearby museum

Who is traveling to see a fricking museum in Anchorage Alaska? If I want to see a "State of the Art" Museum I'm a 2 hour drive from major ones in New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC. And I can assure you none of these states (well, ok DC isn't a state) gets 1.5 million to make the nearby bus stop to match the museum

:grr:

[asjr]

3. Is that money for the bus to nowhere?