Published: August 31, 2008 01:09 am            

EDITORIAL: Signs aren't worth $200K

North Tonawanda, NY — Given the task of somehow improving the region’s riverfront property and $200,000 to do it, how would you spend it?

We’re guessing that any answer you might have concocted would be better than what Erie County is doing.

Legislators, in their infinite wisdom, opted to spend the $200,000 allotment from the Greenway fund on signs for the bike trail.

That’s it, just signs.

We have several questions: First, are they gold-plated? Spending $200,000 to point someone in the right direction on a bike trail (rather difficult to get lost where there aren’t any turns).

But they’ll all look the same, legislators boasted. They’ll all have the Greenway logo. And we’re doing it for half of what Grand Island is spending.

Forgive us if we’re less than impressed.

This money was supposed to go toward creating jobs and a more vibrant waterfront. A bunch of signs telling people what they already know doesn’t accomplish that.

In the grand scheme, $200,000 is a drop in the bucket of waterfront redevelopment money, but it is — what’s the proper metaphor? — a sign of bad things to come. Lawmakers have for decades been criticized for their lack of foresight when it comes to our waterfront real estate. It is things like this that draw that criticism.

For most average taxpayers, $200,000 could pay a mortgage off, or send a couple kids to college. To legislators, it’s just money to burn.

If you’re looking for signs of progress, let’s just say these aren’t it.

        

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