flowers for little italy

the ut reports $200k is slated for flower planters and hanging baskets in little italy. the neighborhood, which already looks great on its main streets, will expand its current floral display with the added money. there's some disagreement over whether city redevelopment money should be used for this, but i think it's well worth it - why not have lush displays like those seen in seattle (pictured above), vancouver and victoria, for example? this can only add to the tourist influx and desirability of the neighborhood, and will likely more than pay for itself.

one interesting note in the article is the $1000 trash cans the redevelopment agency paid for a while back. i never really thought about how good they look compared to the fugly concrete ones around downtown, but it was money well spent in my opinion. just two more good things going for one of the most rapidly-changing neighborhoods in the city.