Q: What’s the difference between Crappy Roundabout Art and Snow Plowing?
A: The City of Bend only pays for one of them.
We have crappy roundabout art that the City of Bend has spent money on all over town – yet we don’t pay to maintain our roads after a storm???
Driving around Bend after it snows is like taking your car down the Air Chamber at Bachelor. I don’t care if everyone in this town drives an Outback or a Hummer – you still need to plow.
For those of you who haven’t traveled much, you should know that this level of road maintenance is not normal. Back East it’ll snow two feet and the roads are bone dry in an hour or two.
If we had the proper plows they could probably take out some of the roundabout art while they’re at it …
Preston Strout
(Editor’s Note: Bend’s roundabout art is purchased by a private arts group, not with city tax dollars.)
This article appears in Jan 17-23, 2008.
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Could we expound on the editor’s note? It’s true that the city doesn’t pay for the art, but it DOES pay for the valuable display space at the center of the roundabouts. So far as I know, there is no charge for this. It’s also noteworthy that many private arts groups are support by non-profit tax breaks (both federal and state?) and government grants. Yes, it’s all a pittance in some eyes, but it’s still subsidized.
Now isnt that the truth. I cant believe how poorly the main streets are taken care of god forbid you venture off.I luckely dont live in Bend but venture in to see some friends from time to time an 97 was bare but a car pulled up with chains an we laughed.Then we turned off an boom packed snow and ice..We stopped laughing.I didnt realize that sand and gravel where such a valuable commodity the intersections look like somebody may have flung a bucket of gravel acrossed an called it good.Bend used to be really good at the upkeep of the streets wonder how well the streets are maintained around the houses up on the hill look.
The houses up here on the hill are being short changed just like everyone else. The city has a failing grade this year on snow removal. Who ever is responsible need to pay……with the loss of their job.