The Founding Fathers never could have seen this one coming. In their vision of a limited government they wouldn't have a city being forced to waste $27 million replacing perfectly functional street signs. Cities, counties, special districts and governmental entities below the state level are not even addressed in the Constitution. It is a two-level system and the top level is supposed to be the one limited to exercising enumerated powers.
Smaller Letters Make Easier Reading?
In a deep recession, in a period in which state and local governments are operating on the precarious edge of default, the Feds sticking their greasy fingers into this issue is simply stupidity of the highest order. This should be strictly a stylistic concern of the city council, not mandated.
Whether or not someone is going to be safer because of a millisecond difference in sign recognition because of all caps or first letter only is debatable at best and unlikely under most considerations. Most people know where they are going. Only a few need to read the sign and of those most will be in no danger whatsoever.
It's your money. This would be a great moment for a strong mayor to stand up and say no. But, that isn't going to happen in NYC with Bloomberg at the helm.
1 comment:
What will they think of next, banning incandescent lightbulbs?
Oh wait - they already have: Dec 31st, 2010 is the last day you can buy a 100W bulb in the US. The rest phase out through 2014, when the lowly 40 W can no longer be sold.
Add another "B" to the existing Three B's (Bullets, Bread, and Bullion) which you should be stockpiling today, for when the Statists try to take control of them, too.
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