Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Would The Last Person Please Turn Out The Lights?

No Mowing, Lots of LightsMy mother used to say that a lot. That was long before anyone ever heard of "global warming" and "multi-trillion dollar defecits." It was just basic, sound financial advice: don't waste electricity by leaving the lights on when you're not there.

The District of Columbia could really use a mother right now. This morning, while walking the dog in the dawn hours, I realized the lights were still on at 1125 Spring Road NW. This is the DC-owned facility which I wrote about about two weeks ago, that has been "permanently closed" since November. Though you wouldn't know that from DC's web site, or the DC Court System's web site.

In my previous post, I wondered why DC thought it was OK to shut down a city-owned facility spanning almost two blocks, and at the same time stop mowing the grass, picking up trash, or shoveling the sidewalks. See, when private property owners do the same, several bad things happen:

  • They start getting taxed at the "blighted property" rate of 10% annually
  • They get ticketed and fined for failing to maintain the grounds
  • If the building is big enough, they get a lot of heat because a lot of people complain about it

But it's good to be the king, isn't it? Because you can do all the same bad stuff, without repercussions, that you bust other people for doing.

Anyways, I have a suggestion for DC. This is a win-win for everyone and it won't cost you a nickel.

Shut off the damn lights, and with the money you save, hire someone to mow the lawn every two weeks.

Given that about half the lights in this facility of at least 50,000 square feet are on, I'd say you'll have some money left over.

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