Humph

Boy, The P. Preservationist has been going bonkers over there ... I'm really glad Tom Salemi pointed this site out to me (and others).

In this post from March 1, P.P. lists projects that have been, or will be, submitted in consideration for CPA funds. I'll re-print his/her list:

Heritage House - Energy Upgrades - WinnCompanies - $500,000 - Housing
Municipal Affordable Housing - Trust Planning Office - $50,000 -Housing
Newburyport Housing Rehabilitation - Planning Office - $200,000 - Housing
National Register Signage Project - Jerry Mullins - $3,150.00 - Historical
Newburyport Front Range Light - Lighthouse Society - $98,000 - Historical
John Bromfield Brick Sidewalk Fund - Jerry Mullins - $100,000 - Historical
City Hall Project, Accessibility, Phase II - Planning Office - $35,000 - Historical
Brown Square Renovation Proj. - Planning Office - $80,000 - Historical
Clipper City Rail Trail Project - Planning Office - $75,000 - Recreational
Common Pasture Public Access - Planning Office - $50,000 - Open Space
Open Space Fund Open Space Committee - $75,000 - Open Space
Gravestone Restoration Project - City Improvement Society - $25,000 - Historical
Oak Hill Cemetery - Proprietors of Oak Hill - $38,500 - Historical
St. Anna’s Chapel Restoration - St. Paul’s Church - $89,750 - Historical
Masonic Building Restoration - Masonic Temple Assoc. - $18,600 - Historical

Ummm ... does anything stick out like a sore thumb? Well, yeah, because I made it bold ...

Didn't the city get $500,000 in grants for renovations at Brown Square? What's this $80,000 for, a gold-plated drinking fountain?

You know, it seems to me that for $500,000, the city could perk up the park (where nobody goes) AND foot the $300,000 bill to bury the wires.

But maybe that's just me.