New LED sign unveiled along Memorial Parkway in Utica

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New LED sign unveiled along Memorial Parkway in Utica

BY NICOLE ESTAPHAN

Story Created: May 16, 2008 at 4:58 PM EDT

Story Updated: May 16, 2008 at 6:01 PM EDT

UTICA - If you drive along the Memorial Parkway in Utica, you'll notice a new addition.

Utica Mayor David Roefaro unveiled the city's new LED screen at Roscoe Conkling Park. The unit, which cost more than $30,000, was funded by last year's park budget.

The screen will display community notes, ranging from events to weather alerts. The mayor says that the response has been good so far.

"We have been inundated with calls since this developed and people just love the idea," said Mayor David Roefaro.

The mayor says the hope is to have more such signs throughout the city

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Thursday, Jul 17 at 10:57 AM Jason Henry wrote ...

Someone should of contacted me before this purchase was made, as I could have turned the new sign into a 'cash cow'. This city would have been generating $30,000 a year with little to no effort, by utilizing this signs capabilites. I know of at least 1 company that is doing this for communities in Canada, and it is working. Oh well, it isn't to late to correct this so called 'misuse of city money'. Take care all!

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Tuesday, May 20 at 8:19 AM North Utican wrote ...

I agree w/ Lori. That $30,000 would have been used much better to help the food bank, or if it was in the park budget, maybe they could've added more programs/staffing to keep the kids busy and out of trouble? Also, it sounds like it's begging to be vandalized. Then who pays to repair it? And to Overtaxed, if you're going to build another hotel to house the tourists who flock here to see our shiny new sign, make sure it's another one like Hotel Utica that doesn't pay its taxes!

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Sunday, May 18 at 5:15 PM another reason to leave.............. wrote ...

$30,000, could be used for a partial policeman salary, filling potholes, assisting the library, up keep for the parkway sledding hill. Isn't there someone who can oversee what the mayor spends money on? So that this could have been stopped, must be related to sptizer

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Sunday, May 18 at 10:54 AM Lori C wrote ...

Earlier in the week, there was an article in the OD about the Food Bank's power being shut off. Not that we, as taxpayers, should bail out every charity in need, but this is just plain wasteful. I have lived in this city 13 years and I can count the number of times on 1 hand that I have driven by Conkling Park. As a person who works with low income people, though, I am very familiar with how often the Food Bank is utilized. Good job, Mayor. No wonder my family and I are leaving this city soon.

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Saturday, May 17 at 11:21 PM Jennifer from Remsen wrote ...

don. I realize that our local government has no control over a lot of the issues that I mentioned. I was typing with my mouth and not my head at the time. I was just so upset that anyone can spend $30,000 on a LCD sign when we have so many other more important things that this money could have been used for.

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Saturday, May 17 at 9:23 PM tax payer wrote ...

I agree with the out of towner. The pot holes are terrible, especially if you fall in one and don't expect. Go down Blandina Street towards Mohawk Street and there are two big dips to avoid. I am waiing to get pulled over for perhaps DWI for serving to avoid these pot holes without runing my tires and anything underneath my car.I go the speed limit so I don't have to go any slower. The sign is ok, but put our money where we need it.

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Saturday, May 17 at 7:00 PM don wrote ...

jennifer from remsen. you make some valid points but dont get caught up in the hype believing that local govornment can do anything about healthcare or gas prices..spend your time and energy on issues local gov. has some control over

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Saturday, May 17 at 4:25 PM outoftowner wrote ...

Every time I drive by the sign I see the Mayors name in big letters, lol. Why not have taken that 30k and patched the potholes in that road, when are politicians going to stop running for office the minute they get elected?

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Saturday, May 17 at 9:30 AM Parkway Business Owner wrote ...

I watched them build this sign since late last fall til the present time. It is very nice but there is one major problem with it. YOU CAN'T READ IT. It's all blury and if you try to read it, which is impossible, you might get in a car accident. The sign is also to low to see. BUT AGAIN LIKE I SAID, WHOEVER DESIGNED IT WAS DONE IN POOR TASTE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T READ IT.

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Saturday, May 17 at 8:29 AM humm. wrote ...

again self indulgent mayor! promoting himself also! whats up with every mayor promoting themselves as if they were a big time media star. the sign is nice, but i hope it was donated, NOT!

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Saturday, May 17 at 8:05 AM mike wrote ...

ONE WORD. WHY????????????????????

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Saturday, May 17 at 8:01 AM SenseTheSarcasmInWhtesboro wrote ...

Mr.Mayor,Can you spend somemore money and line the Buildings in Downtown Utica with Neon lights?like Dallas.This would be a nice sight from my backyard at night.I already have a lovely view watching Cornhill go up in Smoke from Arson Fires.

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Saturday, May 17 at 7:53 AM Anonymous wrote ...

exactly. all the money goes to the parkway.anyone know of a highway leading into Utica that would bring you to view this expensive over rated sign???Does the mayor live on the Parkway?

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Saturday, May 17 at 7:31 AM Led signs wrote ...

Very nice led sign. It must be big LED screen. LED screen LED sign

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Saturday, May 17 at 1:20 AM Local Mom wrote ...

Who will pay for the maintenance of the sign if it breaks down or someone vandalizes it? The taxpayers? All I see when I look at that sign is a big waste of money!

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Saturday, May 17 at 12:49 AM Jennifer from Remsen wrote ...

What about our heathcare or lack there of, education, gas prices, housing market and so on.... Just what Utica needed, another sign to distract drivers. Way to go Roefaro, $30,ooo.oo put to good use. You should concentrate more on things needed, not wanted, we would all be better off that way. Definately agree with you Overtaxed, just another waste of money.

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Friday, May 16 at 7:35 PM Utican wrote ...

Good job mayor

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Friday, May 16 at 6:38 PM Overtaxed wrote ...

You better build another hotel to accommodate the influx of tourists that will no doubt flock to Utica NY to see the LCD signs on the Parkway. Don't worry about the roads that need repaving, or the high property taxes as long as the Parkway is a so called show piece. God knows that was $30,000.00 well spent.

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