Northampton, Massachusetts officials gave the green light to a plan to build and install four. Teenage mutant Ninja TurtleThemed manhole covers to celebrate the fact that the massive franchise was originally created there. And to pay the price, the town is using funds to rebuild towns and businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The pandemic (which is still a problem, even if many people try to argue otherwise) has devastated cities and businesses across the United States as of March 2020. American Recovery Plan Act 2021, aka ARPA. It was a nearly $2 trillion economic stimulus package designed to help the country recover faster from the various effects of the pandemic and try to cope with the ongoing recession. After barely passing through Congress, President Biden signed March 11, 2021. As a result, Northampton, Massachusetts received $4 million that the town and its officials could use for their own purposes. COVID-19 rescue efforts.
And I guess that’s how we got here: A city spends $20,000. TMNTthemed manhole covers.
as reported by WCVBFour manhole covers will be located along Main Street, and each will represent a different turtle. This is not just a random selection, as the city is the original home of Mirage Studios. TMNT franchising was born. Since their debut in 1984, turtles have gone beyond comics into movies, cartoons, games, toys, you name it. So I understand. TMNT It’s a big deal for the town. But it still looks like strange.
By city distribution As for where all the ARPA money is going, the idea behind custom manhole covers is to “revive downtown art” through “a public art tribute to the Northampton-born Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” That’s all well and good, and looking at the list of other grants, it’s clear that the more important projects get much more funding from the city. But I can’t help wondering whether it would be better if that $20,000 was spent directly on helping more people. Or paying homage to a far superior show, Disney’s ugly creatures.
