Let There Be (Expensive) Light
I was asked by our webmaster, Josh Hixson, what I thought about UP charging more for cell phone violations than does HP (with HP only issuing warnings at the beginning of the school year while UP writes real tickets). I didn’t really have any thoughts on the subject until it hit me in a “Eureka” moment. UP must pay for its new chandelier somehow. 
And, furthermore, here we go again. The old “light fixture” was insufficient; now we must graduate to an expensive “chandelier.” When “carpool lines” are replaced with “queue lines” and “light fixtures” with “chandeliers,” watch your wallet. Although I’m sure it’s quite stylish.
7 Comments to “Let There Be (Expensive) Light”
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That explains the ticket I got for speeding thru a school zone on Preston LAST WEEK! I didn’t realize that Christ the King went back a week early so the “Hyer” school zone on Preston was flashing. Of course if I hadn’t been trying to connect my Ipod to the under the dash speaker system, texting a friend and steering with my forehead I probably would have noticed the flashing school zone light.
Well, once again our intrepid UP Community Information Officer, Steve Mace, is trying to confuse me with facts, something that particularly confounds a recovering lawyer like me.
Here is Mr. Mace’s polite and informative rebuttal to my post:
Charles,
While I’m sure that The Dallas Morning News is literally having a chuckle or two at the City’s expense, as is usually the case, a little perspective is needed. It has been nearly 40 years since our last City Hall renovation. Forty years from now the new chandelier will still be in place in the Council Chamber. Using that figure, the cost of the chandelier amounts to $750 a year. As a backdrop to this, the proposed FY09 City budget totals $41 million. For the 14thconsecutive year it features a reduction in the City’s tax rate. As for cell phone citations, as Chief Adams pointed out in a recent entry on this blog, although the cell phone fine is $99, most of that total, $64 is earmarked for the state.
Charles,
I wonder where the old light fixture is going? 40-50 year old art deco fixtures of that size are pretty valuable, especially if its pedigree can be established (Potter Art Metal fixtures are even more valuable).
Look at the drawing very carefully. Does it resemble a certain fountain at the southern edge of HP? As the local design snob, I have to weigh in on this $30,000 dollar piece of fou fou. WHAT WERE YOU ALL THINKING?!! It was bad enough when HP erected their wedding cake fountain. But now UP feels compelled to follow suit with their version of layered fluff.
Gadfly,
I think it’s called “layering,” and it’s all the rage in fashion right now. I’m sure it will remain fashionable for another 40 years.
Pffftt. It’s a brass and glass tutu. Come December, we can expect it to be draped with various kinds of garlands and festive doodads. And voilà, it’s a suspended Christmas tree!
Does the Community Information Officer carry a gun and a badge? The city sure seems to have a lot of money at their disposal. This new light, the park(?) at Hillcrest and Lovers, all of the renaming of parks and fountains for people, and most of all, the Great Wall of Snobbery along Northwest Hwy.