our future?

[kpete]

In Colorado Springs.


More than a third of the streetlights in Colorado Springs will go dark Monday. The police helicopters are for sale on the Internet. The city is dumping firefighting jobs, a vice team, burglary investigators, beat cops — dozens of police and fire positions will go unfilled.

The parks department removed trash cans last week, replacing them with signs urging users to pack out their own litter.

Neighbors are encouraged to bring their own lawn mowers to local green spaces, because parks workers will mow them only once every two weeks. If that.

Water cutbacks mean most parks will be dead, brown turf by July; the flower and fertilizer budget is zero.

City recreation centers, indoor and outdoor pools, and a handful of museums will close for good March 31 unless they find private funding to stay open. Buses no longer run on evenings and weekends. The city won't pay for any street paving, relying instead on a regional authority that can meet only about 10 percent of the need.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_14303473

[Brickbat]

1. So sad, all the way around. Mr. Brickbat grew up in a city that, as it was dying in the 70s and 80s,

took immense pride in its parks system and rec programs, streets, beautification, senior services and senior centers, and other services. Now, they're offloading parks and rec and other services, saying the city "doesn't need to be in the parks business." Why not? When multi-million-dollar industries were leaving this town, it was still proud to be beautiful, to have safe parks and rec centers for children to go to in the summer and after school, among other things. I know people can debate for hours about what government should provide, but I was so charmed by a town that thought it was important to offer these things to its citizens. We moved near this town and a few years ago my son was involved in one of the awesome summer day-camp programs that was open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. They cut that program last year. So very, very sad.

[Jim__]

2. "This tax-averse city is about to learn ..."

If we don't want to pay taxes, then we'll have to pay the consequences.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Not to worry. Spending is being cut, the Pentagon is getting more money, and everybody is happy.

"Everybody" being the people who count - the generals, the bankers, and the politicians on the payroll.

[Joe Fields]

4. what's so sad is that this was all so easy to predict.

there is only so much blood that can be sucked from a dying economy.

[raccoon]

5. Let's get this on Greatest, yall! Rec'd. nt

[RT Atlanta]

6. That is also a peak at Georgia's future

Our state's "leaders" are still stuck in the cut taxes/trickle down growth model.

As for CO Springs, I really hate to hear that... when I visited CO Springs in 81 & 82, I have nothing but fond and vibrant memories.

Hopefully, the wake up call comes soon enough.

[CanonRay]

7. Libertarian should be a synonym for "cheap"

Ever since this town turned "Christian" it's been going down the tubes. They don't want to pay for anything, so they'll have nothing soon.

[madamesilverspurs]

10. James Dobson and Doug Bruce --

what a lousy hand to be dealt!

---

[Solly Mack]

8. Sad

[HCE SuiGeneris]

9. A new spate of ghost towns to emerge?

Damn, but this is scary info. One wonders how long insolvent cities and states can continue to function without cash. We are at critical mass in this country.

[leeroysphitz]

11. Norquist is probably ecstatic. I wonder how all the dupes, who have helped him and the republicans

foist this bullshit less government agenda on us, will feel when they have to pay a monthly fee to a private Fire department.

The dumbasses are about to get the government they deserve along with the rest of us, sadly.