In January, President Obama and the Congressional Democrats had designated $200 million in the "stimulus" bill for upkeep and refurbishing of the Washington Mall. The Republican Party demanded that the money be stripped out, calling it wasteful. Last week I saw the need for the funding firsthand.
I was just in Washington D.C June 11, 2009. I had heard a few months earlier that President Obama and the Congressional Democrats had designated $200 million in the "stimulus" bill for upkeep and refurbishing of the Washington Mall. The Mall is the open park between the Lincoln Memorial, White House, and Capitol Building. The Republican Party demanded that the money be stripped out, calling it wasteful and they succeeded. $200 million may sound like a lot of money and for individuals like us it is, but we spend well over $200 million every day in Iraq. $200 million is only 1/425th of the bailout money given to AIG, and was less than 0.02 percent of the total stimulus bill. Still Republicans like Eric Cantor spread lies to get the money to restore the Mall removed - please read that last link for an excellent non-partisan assessment of why the money is needed.
Below are some photos I took of the conditions on the Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial on June 11, 2009. People wouldn't tolerate such conditions on their kids' soccer fields but it is apparently okay to have this on the nation's capitol Mall. That little river you see in one photo is a leak from the reflecting pool near the Washington Monument.
This is not unusual in this country because everywhere our basic infrastructure--roads, sidewalks, parks, public buildings, schools--are deteriorating from long neglect. Anyone who has driven or walked outside of their homes (i.e. - not been chauffeured from their mansion to their private jet) knows what I mean. It isn't just an eyesore, it harms us in unnecessary costs to productivity and damage to life and property (ever hit a pothole hard? not to mention the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minnesota). Our nation's infrastructure needs funding to be fixed. No, I don't think tax cuts of millionaires is more important. I guess I am not a good conservative.
The Washington Mall story does have a happy ending. Fortunately, the Obama Administration's Interior Department allocated $55.8 million to repair the most urgent needs on the Mall. It's not enough, but it is a start.
Due to DailyKos restrictions, I can only give you links to the photos, not embed them in the diary.
Bare patches and weeds near Washington Monument
Bare Ground near Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool
Standing water near Washington Monument
Water leakage from hole in Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool
Reprinted with permission of author. Original post and full-size photos available at The Big Ride Blog