88 Thousand Dollar Spectacle Still Not Attracting Tourists

Oil City has worked hard the last few years to create appeal in the micro version of the Detroit slums. One of the most recent attempts was dipping into funds to purchase Christmas lights for the bridge. Unfortunately, it's been years since the lights were purchased and nobody seems to go out of their way to visit our town just to see a dollar general spectacle.

We here at the Venango Republic typically fabricate our numbers for satirical humor. However, after doing genuine research, we found the reality of what Oil City spent on these lights to be more hysterical than our usual claim that they went to Dollar General. According to GoErie... And this is actually true... The Oil City Main Street Program spent 88 thousand dollars to put lights on this ugly bridge! Don't believe us? Here's the source!

Might I remind you that many of the Oil City residents are on welfare because the towns jobs keep leaving. With several vacant buildings, and hundreds of Northside houses that are ready to cave in, the Oil City Main Street Program thought your best interest was to spend 88 thousand on a bridge that's a far cry from a golden gate wonder.

Wow! Maybe there is a Mayor Blunder after all...

It's no surprise city enthusiasts will respond by saying "I like the lights. They are pretty and do the town justice." Agreed... Taking Chris Hemsworth and placing him next to a 70 year old cancer patient on chemo does sound appealing. But when given a choice between spending 88 thousand on superior treatment or Chris Hemsworth, which do you think is in the best interest of the patient?

Maybe the lights do the town justice. But does the condition of the town justify the lights? May I remind you what your average house on the Northside looks like?

Beautiful isn't it... Now let's spend 88 thousand to illuminate a bridge no one cares about instead of helping the residents fix this eye sore.

When creating the Venango Republic, some wondered how we would manage to write comical material on a regular basis. The truth is, we only write half... Local businesses like the Oil City Main Street Program do the rest for free...

According to the OCMSP website, the lights were installed in August of 2017. In describing the lights they say "Oil City Center Bridge, known for its captivating light displays..." That is to say, known by all five people who drive by to get to Rouseville... "offers a unique opportunity for individuals and organizations to customize the bridge’s colors for special events or causes." Special events like the major corn hole tournaments that draw 5 people. And as for causes, I don't think they're talking about urban development...

The real issue here is that placing lights on the bridge is not doing anything to fix the town. There is a whole stretch of vacant property just on this side of Seneca Street.

That is just one minute portion of town. There are several other portions that have been vacant for years. Instead of drawing in business, we put lights on a bridge for a place that is anything but a tourist trap.

What do you think will happen when people drive by and see the lights? Let's just say some outsider miraculously drives by at 9 PM when businesses are closed. Do you honestly think they're going to overlook the ugliness of the town and tell their friends in Erie "I just saw this bridge with lights! How about we explore that sketchy town that has nothing to do?" People driving by are going to look at the bridge, then look at the town and say "that looks unsafe" before driving off. Oil City, drawing in business is the key and you have failed yet again... Might as well quit while you're behind.