The Moving City: A huge waste of money that won’t impact reckless driving
Statement of Alderman Lamont Westmoreland August 30, 2024
Earlier this month, the city unveiled The Moving City – an abandoned Ford Ranger pickup from the city Tow Lot – that is extensively adorned and modified as a mobile art creation meant to engage residents on the topic of reckless driving.
For transparency, I have attached a memo on The Moving City from the Legislative Reference Bureau.
I am embarrassed, upset and disappointed that funds and city staff time were directed toward this project. Previously, the Common Council approved giving the Arts Board such power to do whatever it wanted with their budgeted public art funds without needing Council approval. I’ve lost confidence that they’re using these funds in the best ways and as a result, I am now working to change the ordinance which will require the Board to bring such ideas to the full Council for approval.
While so far about $61,000 has been directed toward this project, once the final invoices come in the full price tag will be in the ballpark of $88,000. The kicker: $88,000 spent on a project that will be decommissioned, with the vehicle going back to the Tow Lot and never seen again.
So, in theory, this is an irresponsible waste of their valuable budgeted funds for something temporary when the Arts Board could very clearly have used that money toward permanent public art to beautify spaces throughout Milwaukee. Perhaps this project could have been completed for free by creative children from across the city who have an interest in art.
In my view, the wasteful idea of spending $88,000 for the temporary ‘The Moving City” should have been thrown into the trash bin as soon as it was brought up as an idea.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Ald. Lamont Westmoreland
Walgreens at 5201 N. 91st St. to Close December 3rd – Residents Encouraged to Seek Pharmacy Alternatives
Nov 11th, 2024 by Ald. Lamont WestmorelandStatement from Alderman Lamont Westmoreland November 11, 2024
A sincere THANK YOU to those who have made the sacrifice to serve
Nov 11th, 2024 by Ald. Lamont WestmorelandStatement from Alderman Lamont Westmoreland November 11, 2024
i’m with you ald. lamont. i again call for red light cameras. not every car that speeds through a red light is stolen. no one needs their attention drawn to reckless driving. all of us who drive in the city, any part of the city, experiences reckless driving all the time.
I agree. I am a fan of the arts and integrating art where it makes sense, but this does not make sense. What a waste of money that could be used for something that might actually help. But please explain this to me: “The kicker: $88,000 spent on a project that will be decommissioned, with the vehicle going back to the Tow Lot and never seen again.” I’m confused.
Agree with tornado75 & KFG.
Also, better monitoring/control of funding.
I personally find it refreshing to hear an idea and action proposed that doesn’t just give more money to police. Spending a few crumbs for the arts is very likely to have as much impact as another beat cop sitting in a running car all day long. Art heals.
It may or may not be a waste of money, (I certainly do not get it as an engaging artistic statement, but that is me) but it certainly isn’t, as the Alderman states, “huge”. The quixotic Vision Zero project will cost how many millions? They already spent an $800,000 federal grant on a “Safety Action Plan” alone. And will “Vision Zero” also address reckless police chases? It would seem “Vision Zero” would require going back to a “no chase” MPD policy that we used to have prior to 2017 (I think).
Alder Westmoreland finally gets to what’s irking him: this art will do nothing to increase traffic safely.
Like a work of art or don’t—that’s the way it goes. We all get to have our reactions to it. But suggesting that the Common Council have approval authority over arts funding —especially for specific projects—is an awful idea. Politicians and elected officials are among the last people who should be approving art. Their innate motivations and interests are antithetical to the artistic process.
This is art. The arts board has a budget to allocate to art projects. That’s what it did.
The whole idea that “The Moving City” will markedly improve traffic safety in the city was unfortunately perpetuated by an Urban Milwaukee headline based on a comment by the artist.
Spare me the outrage.
Clarification of my previous comment – when I suggested tighter control over funding.
I was NOT suggesting that politicians’ control of art is generally a good thing.
Artistically, the piece is not on my wavelength. Financially, it is an attention-getting tool in a larger safety program.
The price of the art itself is subject to cost/benefit analysis,
the same way an advertiser would weigh Commercial Artwork’s contribution to an ad campaign.
I presume the dollars mentioned are for the entire program – construction transport, storage, publicity, printed handouts, etc. The ‘job’ of the piece is to attract and focus attention on safety.
IF enough people see it, and are influenced by it’s applied messages,
it SUCCEEDS, my artistic opinion be damned!
Affix a sign on it, and say “these are the stupid people that voted for, designed, built, or wasted your tax dollars” on the side of it. Then, put the names in highly visible letters on the side of it. Next someone will want to spell out MILWAUKEE out of used under ware, and the City will say its for art’s sake.