Save Newport Real News in Newport Beach
Newport Beach sparked off a heated argument when they spent $220,000 out of the playground budget for city hall to instead purchase gigantic rabbits. Small-government types spoke out loudly, calling it the embodiment of fiscal irresponsibility. One of our councilmen made his election centered around the expense, even making a commercial to “blow up the bunnies”.
I guess the council has a short memory, because this coming Tuesday they are set to vote on spending 20% more than the bunnies… on a roadsign. Yes, you read that correctly, and no, this isn’t– as District 1 resident Jon Pedersen joked, “a thin-film retina display spanning the whole blvd”. It’s a $260,675.00 sign that simply says “Balboa Village” on it. Here’s a mock-up of what they want to build for more than one quarter of a million dollars of YOUR money:
I can see why it would be useful: You know, in case you drove 2.4 miles down the Balboa Peninsula and then wondered where you might be, at this point, the $260,000+ sign would be helpful for a fraction of a second.
The seal in the middle of this sign says “Home Of The Fun Zone”, which might as well say “Home of The Rendezvous Ballroom”, as one was destroyed by the crony business ExplorOcean a decade ago, and the other burned down only 50 years ago.
Think this is ridiculous? Email our council and tell them to be more responsible with your money, at citycouncil@newportbeachca.gov
