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Tight budgets mean little to fatcats seeking handouts.

By George Baumler

  It has been widely reported that the frivolous project department in Frankfort may suffer from an acute lack of funds this year.  That could dash the hopes of the fans of commercial sports, in particular professional basketball.  Due to the economic downturn that began over a year and a half ago, the likelihood of the legislature in Frankfort passing a new tax to help pay for the arena and support facilities grows more remote daily.  The hard financial times, however, haven't slowed those who want the local government to pay for an arena and other projects in downtown Louisville.

  The railroad fans, who are looking for the local government and TARC to build the fifteen mile, half billion dollar plus, trolley to nowhere, that will probably carry few riders if built, haven't stopped their efforts either.  The train buffs are lined up at the trough with curly tails wagging.  The Federal transportation cabinet gave the trolley project the recommended project rating.  (And you thought hog farming was illegal within the city limits.)

  Not satisfied with local hotel accommodations, the local officials in Louisville have decided to give a boost in the form of 35 million dollars extracted form the local taxpayers and other hotel guests to the Marriott chain to locate in downtown.  The project will also have the benefit of shifting several pornography businesses to other neighborhoods.  No small hotels or other retail businesses were asked if they'd like that sort of hand out to help them overcome competition from larger chains.  The project will give a little competition to Louisville's older hotels such as the Galt House and Seelbach Hilton which will not be receiving 35 million dollars, though any hotel room taxes would apply to their guests.  No one ever said life was fair.

  The Ohio River Bridge project is still under fire for aiding urban sprawl and causing people to drive their cars instead of sitting stalled in traffic wishing they were riding in a speedy 3mph* TARC trolley.  The bridge, if built, would connect interstate 265 with its counterpart in Indiana and would pass uncomfortably close to the homes of some of the area's most well-to-do citizenry; hence the endless delays and lawsuits.  Roads and infrastructure to aid in moving goods and people is obviously a misuse of taxpayers’ money, according to those who want taxpayers to subsidize the commercial basketball team, hotel chains and antiquated transportation schemes.

*Estimated speed due to frequent stops for anxiously anticipated boarding and exiting from the filled-to-capacity trolley cars. Actual speed for other similar installations averages about 15-20 mph.

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