The twinkling LED lights of the Bay Bridge will be turned off in March and their future revival depends on getting large donations. Devin Fehely reports. (1-29-23)
With all the money being dumped on tolls, there should be no reason why some of that can't go to the Bridge lights, remember now we have eliminated most toll takers as well. Where did that money go?
They already got rid of the toll takers. Why would you get rid of toll takers if you were saving money?? Wouldn’t it be, “hire more toll takers with the money saved”? There’s no money saved anyway, this entire installation was/is funded by donations. Toll Authority agreed to maintain it after 2014, but they likely didn’t do sh!t. Electricity? That’s a couple grand a month max.
One is funded by tolls and tax dollars, the other is funded by donors. Also, the bike path doesn’t end.. it just looks you right back where you came from. I call that convenience.
Why should we pay for an accessory? You’d rather our tax dollars go to dazzling lights instead of maintaining the roads? This absolutely should be funded by donations and easily will… again.
Asking for the public to fund a massive art installation that could potentially effect the migration routes of sea birds, waterfowl and other marine life? Without researching how all that light pollution harms wildlife just for the sake of “art” Pathetic.
Good idea, we should just stick the stars on the bridge and make them sequence in patterns. Go ahead and get started.. I’m sure elon will be right behind.
It definitely looks nice, but why pay $11 million for a display on a structure that doesn't serve the needs of traffic today? It's a historic bridge but it's no Golden Gate. There's no pedestrian/bike accommodations on this bridge and driving the lower deck gives me anxiety.
Have to keep that revenue getter going... high $$$ paychecks depend on it 🙄 Me... rather see that much less light pollution !!! Real Stars and the Milkyway is up there someplace 🤔🤔
The lights that outline the bridge are actually flourescent. Many of those lights have gone dark, either from burned out, or subcumed to the natural elements of the climate of the SF Bay. How about we get those fixed. There are cables on the bridge that literally do not even illuminate anymore as a result.
You are out of your mind to expect these lights to be paid for by the public. What a manipulation..... Maybe you can force the public to pay for it by putting a "Fee" (aka TAX) on everyone crossing the bridge. Forced Art. The New Normal
Bummer. The lights make everyone happy who watches them. Another nice touch gone. Its vibe lifts the Embarcadero area and keeps people smiling. Why can't we have nice things? Only strife is relevant these days
Why would the corrupt Board of Supervisors pay this CEO when we can just allow the lights to fade or be replaced? To pay this corrupt CEO’s salary with the public dollar to remove all of the LEDs is RIDICULOUS.
You can’t just leave the lights up and “let them fade”. They’ll deteriorate and fall into traffic or the bay. If they are replaced, who’s going to pay for the replacement? They don’t have funding for it. The removal was part of their original agreement when it was originally installed. Lastly, it’s not “public dollars” in the sense that we as tax payers are funding it. The installation was 100% funded through donations and was not supposed to be up as long as it has been. In 2014, the Bay Bridge Authority decided to keep the installation and maintain it. The company is supposedly a “non-profit”.. so you can consider it no different than a mega church.. but one that puts on a light show outdoors for everyone to enjoy.
You think just because they don't pay for lights they're going to spend money on a problem that's been going on for over a decade? Wtf are you guys smoking?
It's probably better for the birds to turn them off. Put that money towards more affordable housing, the unhoused, income inequality, health insurance for all, and the working poor.
3rd largest GDP in the world...Cant find away to keep lights on... Supposedly some of brightest people in the country here...cant figure away to make the lights work off solar. How does anyone justify this?
🙄🙄 Leave them off. This isn't France, and that's not the Eiffel Tower. And with the thousands of displaced, disenfranchised, and homeless growing by the day in the City, this concern is just flat-out tone deaf and perverse...
@@liljs4189 - They’ve been talking about several add-on designs for a very long time. They plan on calling it the “Bay Skyway” and it only will cost us -$128 million- -$141 million- $935 million And plenty of people want to walk on that bridge.. I bet a solid 1-2 people use the sidewalk on the new span at least once a week. Just imagine if it connected all the way across.. we could triple than number.
for caltrans to not have any more raises more concern, bridge tolls are up the a55, car registration, now there are express lanes casuing even more traffic. the roads have more holes than swiss cheese. CA is the new sh!t hole
Obviously, the budget for replacements will double, as will the time frame to reinstall them. Just like everything else in our country! The money's in the PAPERWORK! 🤗
The city did not have no soul before the lights went in. I hope they still keep the lights that follow the top of the bridge to at least outline the bridge. If they come back or not it was a nice installation. To be honest i could see that investment going towards other things as much as getting the lights back on. I remember it before they went on and the bridge still looked beautiful!
Am I the only one who has thoughts about Civil Defense being in on this? The ultimate answer to so many odd decisions, in this sensitive area on an ocean we share with Russia, at this tense time in history.
You're right about this being a tense time in history. You're way wrong about Russia, however. You have no idea about what's *really* been happening in the world the last 6 years...
Quite symbolic of California these days.
Q U I T E
Lights out ☠️☠️☠️
With all the money being dumped on tolls, there should be no reason why some of that can't go to the Bridge lights, remember now we have eliminated most toll takers as well. Where did that money go?
Pockets of the higher ups. Bay bridge is owned by Caltrans.. you would think maybe they can fix a couple pot holes at least.
Greed
When the lights go down in the City
And the sun shines on the bay
I want to be there in my City
Oh, oo, oh
Ohh, oo, ohh
Oh, oo, oh
Bunch of crap !!!! Cars have head lights..stop wasting tax dollars
BUT LETS KEEP SENDING MONEY TO UKRAINE !
Use the money saved by getting rid of the toll takers. Ridiculous
Exactly my thought. Where is all of this money going?
They already got rid of the toll takers. Why would you get rid of toll takers if you were saving money?? Wouldn’t it be, “hire more toll takers with the money saved”?
There’s no money saved anyway, this entire installation was/is funded by donations. Toll Authority agreed to maintain it after 2014, but they likely didn’t do sh!t. Electricity? That’s a couple grand a month max.
What's the electricity bill for these lights ? Tax payers better not be paying !!!!!
First, a bike path that ends in the middle of a bridge, now this...
Oh, the bike lane doesn’t bring riders all the way between Oakland and SF? 😮
It doesn’t end. Your supposed to JUMP.
@@phhh3849 😂😂😂💀
One is funded by tolls and tax dollars, the other is funded by donors.
Also, the bike path doesn’t end.. it just looks you right back where you came from. I call that convenience.
@@phhh3849 Jump AND Swim 🏊♀️ and bring Shark Repellant
My tolls are not enough?
Seriously, where is our toll going? Thats so much money 💰
But why not leave them up till they are ready to replace them?
War, Hunger, Disease, Violence and you want to raise money for freaking lights in a freaking bridge?
Cities still live on, public art is and will always be a thing. It's part of SF.
Why do community have to fund this ?? aren't we paying taxes . This is something that should be paid with CA budget surplus.
🤣🤣 what "surplus" ... u r kidding right ???
Why should we pay for an accessory? You’d rather our tax dollars go to dazzling lights instead of maintaining the roads? This absolutely should be funded by donations and easily will… again.
Asking for the public to fund a massive art installation that could potentially effect the migration routes of sea birds, waterfowl and other marine life?
Without researching how all that light pollution harms wildlife just for the sake of “art”
Pathetic.
Art installations come & go. Save some energy! Less light pollution. The stars are free!
Good idea, we should just stick the stars on the bridge and make them sequence in patterns. Go ahead and get started.. I’m sure elon will be right behind.
LED.
It definitely looks nice, but why pay $11 million for a display on a structure that doesn't serve the needs of traffic today? It's a historic bridge but it's no Golden Gate. There's no pedestrian/bike accommodations on this bridge and driving the lower deck gives me anxiety.
just turn them off and make the resources useful!
11 million dollars!? Why not do something better with that money? Like clean up the cities
How this guy even had a job from this is why our city is doomed.
It's one of the many important art installations in SF. It's what we do and who and how we are.
Have to keep that revenue getter going... high $$$ paychecks depend on it 🙄 Me... rather see that much less light pollution !!! Real Stars and the Milkyway is up there someplace 🤔🤔
Yup. There's no such thing as a non-profit.
I was confused about my life, then I saw the lights on the bridge and everything came into focus.
Continue to abandon everything that makes the Bay Area special and there’ll be nothing left but a wasteland
Why wouldn’t they have the newer lights ready? Don’t take these down just yet
It’s irresponsible to build a billion dollar structure and have to fund raise to keep the lights on. Smh
You do realize these aren't the lights that illuminate the road deck right? That these are just decorative? You're not really that dumb are you?
You do realize these lights are only for decoration and were originally a donated art project? The bridge has its own lights.
The lights that outline the bridge are actually flourescent. Many of those lights have gone dark, either from burned out, or subcumed to the natural elements of the climate of the SF Bay.
How about we get those fixed. There are cables on the bridge that literally do not even illuminate anymore as a result.
The Bay Bridge lights is my favorite art installation in SF! So beautiful to look at!
You are out of your mind to expect these lights to be paid for by the public. What a manipulation..... Maybe you can force the public to pay for it by putting a "Fee" (aka TAX) on everyone crossing the bridge. Forced Art. The New Normal
Bummer. The lights make everyone happy who watches them. Another nice touch gone. Its vibe lifts the Embarcadero area and keeps people smiling. Why can't we have nice things? Only strife is relevant these days
Seems like a massive waste of energy and money... 🙄
Alot of people love it. how can it be a waste?
We spend millions upon millions on other dumb stuff what’s another 11 million.
Why would the corrupt Board of Supervisors pay this CEO when we can just allow the lights to fade or be replaced? To pay this corrupt CEO’s salary with the public dollar to remove all of the LEDs is RIDICULOUS.
You can’t just leave the lights up and “let them fade”. They’ll deteriorate and fall into traffic or the bay.
If they are replaced, who’s going to pay for the replacement? They don’t have funding for it. The removal was part of their original agreement when it was originally installed.
Lastly, it’s not “public dollars” in the sense that we as tax payers are funding it. The installation was 100% funded through donations and was not supposed to be up as long as it has been. In 2014, the Bay Bridge Authority decided to keep the installation and maintain it. The company is supposedly a “non-profit”.. so you can consider it no different than a mega church.. but one that puts on a light show outdoors for everyone to enjoy.
Did you watch the video?
The light have been paid by private citizens;public donation since the start, and still is...!
There are bigger problems to address besides some damn LED lights on a bridge & I'm an electrician.
Maybe just charge more across the bridge. You don't need lights. Wake up we pay for it.
Light pollution is a real thing and comes with with health consequences. Leave it dark.
Hmmmmm. new lights…homeless crazies…new lights…clean sidewalks…new lights…
You think just because they don't pay for lights they're going to spend money on a problem that's been going on for over a decade? Wtf are you guys smoking?
It's probably better for the birds to turn them off. Put that money towards more affordable housing, the unhoused, income inequality, health insurance for all, and the working poor.
3rd largest GDP in the world...Cant find away to keep lights on... Supposedly some of brightest people in the country here...cant figure away to make the lights work off solar. How does anyone justify this?
aye bro the bay area has some serious issues other than bridge lights but sure raise money for lights
🙄🙄
Leave them off.
This isn't France, and that's not the Eiffel Tower.
And with the thousands of displaced, disenfranchised, and homeless growing by the day in the City, this concern is just flat-out tone deaf and perverse...
Im sure that's where they'll relocate the money😄😄😄. Because the people that run this city care 😆 😆 😆
It was only supposed to last a few years. The bridge needs a sidewalk more than art.
Why would anyone want to walk in that bridge and how would that even come about?
@@liljs4189 - They’ve been talking about several add-on designs for a very long time. They plan on calling it the “Bay Skyway” and it only will cost us -$128 million- -$141 million- $935 million
And plenty of people want to walk on that bridge.. I bet a solid 1-2 people use the sidewalk on the new span at least once a week. Just imagine if it connected all the way across.. we could triple than number.
@@liljs4189 ppl rides their bikes on the bay bridge
for caltrans to not have any more raises more concern, bridge tolls are up the a55, car registration, now there are express lanes casuing even more traffic. the roads have more holes than swiss cheese. CA is the new sh!t hole
We all voted for those bridge tolls to go up people forget! (well.. i didnt but clearly the majority did).
call me stupid but what's the toll money for?
Each time an led light blinks on the bridge a homeless person dies in California
Well if that were the case.. we wouldn’t have any homeless would we.
Shoulda made em solar powered
Obviously, the budget for replacements will double, as will the time frame to reinstall them. Just like everything else in our country!
The money's in the PAPERWORK! 🤗
San Francisco reminds me of an old married couple romance, is best viewed in the dark and with the lights off
Fix the crime and homeless problems instead of spending on this nonsense. The city is no longer was it was.
The city did not have no soul before the lights went in. I hope they still keep the lights that follow the top of the bridge to at least outline the bridge. If they come back or not it was a nice installation. To be honest i could see that investment going towards other things as much as getting the lights back on. I remember it before they went on and the bridge still looked beautiful!
How did the city not have soul before the lights going?
I swear these people are focused on the wrong things
💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔
a damn shame
What a joke! This better get the funding lmao
I'll do it for a pack of Pall Malls and a Dr. Pepper.
What? Oh God
Am I the only one who has thoughts about Civil Defense being in on this?
The ultimate answer to so many odd decisions, in this sensitive area on an ocean we share with Russia, at this tense time in history.
Make sure you always look under your bed and car too.
@@wopalongcassidy Doesn't everyone?
@@wopalongcassidy
😄
Kek 🐸
You're right about this being a tense time in history. You're way wrong about Russia, however. You have no idea about what's *really* been happening in the world the last 6 years...
Believe me, the Russians don't need lights on the Bay Bridge to find SF
Tear it down.
Art is so overrated.
ART IS SO NOT OVERRATED, YOUR LIFE IS SO OVERRATED!!!!! NOW YOU JUST SHUT UP, YOU F-ING RACIST TRUMP SUPPORTER FREAK AND LEAVE CBS NEWS BAY AREA!!!!!
As much as it cost for toll I think they can leave them off