If there is one entity that knows the art of wasting taxpayer dollars it is the government.
The Super Bowl was a reminder of how much tax money is used for these extravagant stadiums, events, and other venues that are deemed “investments” to “stimulate” the economy. It’s all hogwash.
While the price-tag of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta was a topic of conversation, there is another and more egregious story underneath the surface: a bridge.
City officials spent $23 million – it was originally $13 million but they added another $10 million to get the project finished on time – to construct a pedestrian bridge that connects the stadium to the nearby Vine City public transit station.
The problem? The bridge was classified as a security risk and would only be used for credentialed staff and the press.
A spokesperson for the city later clarified reports once they went viral:
“This event has been categorized by the federal government as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1. The FBI and NFL in consultation with other security partners made the determination to close the bridge to the public ahead of the event. However the bridge will be open for attendees to exit at the conclusion of the game.”
What’s worse for Atlanta? The fact that people can’t use the bridge or taxpayers were charged $23 million?
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