Sharing Thoughts on Proposed Changes to Kiosks and Hinds Plaza
To the Editor:
Two items have recently been discussed by Council for consideration and have elicited public commentary: replacement of the public kiosks on Nassau Street and the renovation of Hinds Plaza.
The notion to convert the somewhat quaint kiosks into a mini–Times Square seems superfluous and a poor aesthetic choice if the intent is to reduce clutter and enhance efficiency of message posting. Glaring neon signage will distract both pedestrians and drivers and will require computer-driven control systems to operate messages. Will pedestrians be more informed by scrolling advertisements and announcements? Persons who currently read postings on the kiosks are unlikely to be attracted to yet another digital screen in order to be informed about local events and interests.
The proposed Hinds Plaza renovations appear to address a problem that does not exist. If the extant trees are indeed aging, a notion called into question by at least one bona fide expert, the simplest and most economical solution is to just replace them — not redesign and reconstruct the plaza. (And get Bill Flemer to oversee the replacement.) Further, the current shrubs that border the sidewalk were installed to provide a visual and partial physical barrier to pedestrian and vehicle traffic, a function that is served as intended, so why subvert that function and crowd the sidewalk?
Both proposals inspire the impression of paid consultants trying to justify their contract by offering (over-designed) ideas of how to spend tax dollars that could and should be better utilized. Give those proposed renovation funds (and the consultant contracts that produced those ideas) to the housing initiative, for example.