What would you do with $10.5 million?

I had a great time at my campaign open house — connecting with some old friends and meeting new folks.

We displayed a couple of posters on which people entered their answers to a question worded something like “IF the city had $10.5 million to spare, how should it be spent?” The responses were diverse, but no one suggested the Crestpointe project.

A few might cost more than $10.5 million, but several listed priorities would use only a tiny fraction of that amount ($10.5 million is a lot of money!):

RETAIL & BUSINESS PROPOSALS

* Sign for Jackson Square with a list of the businesses there

* New attractive light for Jackson Square (“pay attention to this great place!”)

* Grove Center needs generic sign showing businesses

* Subsidize new local businesses in existing retail space (that got one comment of “Amen”)

* Do what’s necessary to revitalize the Mall!

* Initiate and maintain a program to encourage and expand new small businesses

EDUCATION AND ARTS

* Education! and the arts (that got one comment of “I second that”)

* Fund school budget – keep schools strong – good music program – do not go backwards

* Full funding of school system – all those unfunded mandates!

SENIOR CENTER, ETC.

* Build a new senior center and preschool

* Build or acquire senior/community center SOON (that got comments of “I second that!!!” and “I third this motion”)

OTHER LOCAL PROJECTS

* Bike lanes on all thoroughfares

* Invest in the preservation of the north tower of K-25 to jump start massive heritage tourism in the city

* Make Oak Ridge a leader in fighting global warming

* Make Oak Ridge a leader in energy-efficient homes and businesses

* Be part of a regional passenger rail system (that got a comment of “I second that”)

* Condos on ridge top (not Target), rent to city government operations as income

LAW ENFORCEMENT PROPOSALS

* More video surveillance cameras throughout the city

* More police officers

FINANCIAL PROPOSALS

* Pay down debt, borrow no more

* 5 kegs on the 18th hole and put the rest in the bank, hedge funds, and my business in order to get 6% to 8% return for schools