Our Flag Was Still There!

This looks great!
On November 4th, 2008 the United States of America elected it's new President, Barrack Obama. Many Americans were very excited by this news and took to dancing in the streets and waving flags. The MTA was also pretty excited as can be seen by their impressive display of American patriotism and New York State pride. But wait, hold on, look at that flag! Is that a holdover from when LBJ was president and Rockefeller was the Governor? Or maybe they are reenacting the moment in history recounted in the Star Spangled banner. This raggedy American flag sure looks like its been through a war. And I dont think that New York flag (if thats what it is) has been unfurled in years. Its permanently wrapped around that pole.

If you look closer you can see that the MTA does not miss a detail when going for that 1970s-Belfast look. The sidewalk shed is an obvious place to start, and tattered flags add a nice effect, but the MTA rounds out the look with some very nice boards in the windows. Classic.

I know what you are thinking: "okay, MTApleaseFixJay, we know the MTA is neglectful and can't maintain anything, but they are in a budget crisis, what can they do?"

Well, I bet you didn't know this. They could sell that building for at least $100 million. Its prime time real estate, right in the middle of Downtown Brooklyn and on top of a subway station. And as we know from an earlier post and by just looking at the thing, its been vacant for years. They could sell it and make money - thats a good idea. But what are they going to do instead? Put $150 million into the building - thats a bad idea. They say so here. Where are they getting this $150 million? Who knows? And why do the improvements cost more than the building is worth? Who knows? But doesn't it make you proud to be an American?

"Oh say, does thaaaaat star spangled banneeeeerrrrr yeeeeeet waaaaaaave"!!!!