City, County get $8.1 mil in stimulus funds
Congressman Tom Perriello (D-Ivy) announced today that as money from the federal stimulus package is beginning to be doled out, Charlottesville and Albemarle will receive a combined $8.1 million in funding for transportation projects. Albemarle got $6.7 million in order to do 42 miles' worth of paving along Routes 20, 29, 33, 53, and 250. Charlottesville received $1.3 million to make purchases for its public transit system, including two new buses, four "bus shelters," and new bike racks.
–file photo by Courteney Stuart
5 comments
Of course, when Perrielo runs again he's going to cite this pork as proof of his ability to get federal money into the 5th District. Any new jobs in restaurants will be totaled to imply that he was successful in bringing jobs to the 5th District using this $8M.
The $1.3M that the city is getting is about the same that it gets frequently for new buses, bus shelters and bike racks. Before it was described as a grant.
Buying votes, buying votes, buying votes.
The money is going to be spent and it is up to all of us to make sure that these folks making the decisions spend it wisely. It is not FREE money.
This stimulus package is supposed to be viagra when it really just a flinstone vitamin
Looks like the City came up on the short end of the stick. Does this look like money that will create more jobs or just money for the public works department ?
Okay, so what does purchasing buses, some shelters, and bike racks do to stimulate the local economy?
Absolutely nothing.
This should be called the Pet Project Stimulus Package.
Just remember we all will be paying this money back big time in the future. Is the county paving or repaving? Sounds like the asphalt industry did some pretty big loddying.