Cherry Blossom parade might be nixed if there's a shutdown
Posted on 04/06/2011 10:48:43 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Cherry Blossom parade might be nixed if there's a shutdown By Michael O'Brien - 04/06/11 12:38 PM ET
The National Cherry Blossom Parade may not take place if there is a government shutdown, the Obama administration cautioned Wednesday.
Among the government operations and services that could be closed would be national parks, which includes the site of Saturday's parade in Washington, D.C.
A senior administration official singled out the parade during a conference call Wednesday morning hosted by the Office of Management and Budget.
Federal agencies have sought to identify which employees and services would be furloughed if lawmakers can't reach an agreement to fund the government before Friday's deadline.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual two-week springtime festival coordinated with the peak blossom season for D.C.'s many cherry blossom trees. It is a large draw for tourists.
The National Park Service estimates that the festival, which has drawn around 150,000 people in past years, creates at least $126 million for the D.C.-area economy, according to a report in The Fiscal Times.
I always thought that the Cherry Blossom Festival was sponsored by the District.
Well cool. We’ve found something else to cut. DC can pick up the tab if they want it so bad.
Wimmyn and minorities hit hardest... story at 8.
WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
sorry
Already in play.
“I always thought that the Cherry Blossom Festival was sponsored by the District.”
It is, but the two are intertwined. DC government has already announced that if the feds shut down, there will be no DC trash pickup, DMV services, libraries, etc.
For those of us who live in the area, this is a big deal, even if we aren’t federal employees. The local impact has the potential to be great. Not that I don’t support the cause, but we aren’t able to be quite as cavalier about it as some of you when it affects our private businesses and livelihoods.
I don’t care at all.
Cancel everything.
obastard is out there mouthing off about parks being closed, having to change vacation plans, uncertainty.... who the hell cares? I don’t. You can’t get much more uncertainty than he has created.
Stupid bastard.
This is the problem with this country, and with government having its nose in everyone’s business—a city can’t even hold an annual event that should otherwise be enjoyable (if that’s your taste). Rather than a private group or groups running the festival and generating income they can re-invest into future years, they’re dependent on Uncle Sam for funding. For all we know, the event itself doesn’t generate the 126 million—the “proceeds” come from government handouts.
Obama can every one of those cherry trees and put them where the sun don’t shine. Who gives a s—t? I only wish we could shut down the White House.
Grandma starved yesterday. Try to keep up.
Will the Wed. night concerts at the WH end?
Oh noez!
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
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