"City policies state that all major city projects over $1 million put 1 percent of the cost towards public art. In this case, the station is expected to cost $6.7 million once it is constructed."

Just what we need......a new 6.7 million dollar fire station that won't receive but a few dozen calls a year....PLUS.....a mandated $67,000 piece of artwork!

I love living in a city flush with extra dollars to spend.

The council members who voted for these projects should pat themselves on their back.

Keep up the good work!

This is a ridiculous expenditure of public moneys at this time. There is no need for the station, no need for the extra staff it will take, and definitely no need for the "artwork."

Agree eith the first two posters. Why doesn't the city put this money towards firefighter salary foundation or a retirement fund or for some housing so firefighters can live locally?

"Why doesn't the city put this money towards firefighter salary foundation or a retirement fund or for some housing so firefighters can live locally?"

You've got to be kidding..."put money towards firefighter retirement fund"......sure, we'll get right on it!

" Council member Mike Kasperzak was critical of the city's increasingly expensive union contracts, which are the major cause of a recurring $4 million deficit projected over the next few years.

Residents "are losing their jobs, their wages are being cut," Kasperzak said. "We're asking them to pay more for less. What it comes down to is we have to do all these cuts so we can do wage increases" for city employees. He added that he may not be able to support the budget in June if the labor groups do not share the pain."

Does this station get funded out of the asinine Shoreline taxation district? If so, they might as well buy 10x that much art to go with the golf carts.

Time for the council to stop playing games with shoreline and END the obsolete tax district-- our schools are suffering becuause of it!

Top 10 Mtn.View Fire personnel make greater than $210,000... Next 10 make over $190,000......Daily Post, Tuesday, April 7, 2009......How much did this group contribute to the campaigns of our council members?

I thought this fire station was part of the firefighters retirement fund. I suggest a sculpture of pigs with their snouts in the trough. It would seem appropriate.

This project at this time is a perfect illustration of the total contempt public sector employees have for the taxpayer.

If the taxpayers/residents don't voice an opinion to the council, how will they know of their dissatisfaction? If residents don't like the way our dollars are being spent, go to council meetings, send emails about these ridiculous expenditures.

Web Link

MV City Council Email addresses: Web Link

how ironic that this story is right below the "lack" of school funding story. does a fire station work better because of a horrifically overpriced piece of art?

The Roosevelt administration funded artists, as well as artisans -- and refurbished a great city (New York) during the Great Depression. Artists need to work too, and the art work (and the fire station) will be long admired after our recession is over.

Yes, the glass is half full!

Ellen Murray
Mountain View, CA

ellenamber@comcast.net