What Could $67,000 Have Done for Montgomery?
Montgomery is trying to revitalize — but revitalize what? And at what cost?
Sixty-seven thousand dollars were spent on a temporary, three-day Ferris wheel installation at the Riverfront, as a trial run for a permanent structure. It stood only about 3 to 5 stories tall.
So let’s ask: What does Montgomery actually need? How could that money have better served the community? And do the costs of this project add up?
The Ferris wheel temporarily installed in downtown Montgomery had 10 gondolas, likely seating 2–3 people each, for a total of 20–30 riders per cycle. Based on comparable ride rentals, this type of portable 40–45 ft Ferris wheel typically costs between $2,000 and $8,000 per day, depending on staffing, transport, setup, and power. For a three-day municipal pilot, the total cost would reasonably fall between $6,000 and $20,000.
The city has not publicly released financial or attendance data, but these estimates fall far short of the reported $67,000 — by as much as $40,000 to $60,000. This raises real questions about how public funds are being allocated.
Let’s look at what $67,000 could have done instead:
1. Feed People
- Provided over 22,000 hot meals through community kitchens
- Supplied 1,340 families with $50 grocery cards
- Funded 268,000 meals through food banks using bulk purchasing power
2. Cover Utility Bills
- Paid off average overdue utility balances for 85 households
- Provided $500 in energy assistance to 134 families
- Kept dozens of homes connected to power, water, or heat through the winter
3. Provide Housing Relief
- Paid five years’ rent for one person in a one-bedroom apartment
- Covered one month of rent for 134 families at $500 each
- Funded emergency shelter stays or transitional housing
4. Address Medical Needs
- Covered out-of-pocket healthcare for 60 people for a year
- Paid for 45 emergency room visits for uninsured individuals
- Supported mobile clinics, prescription coverage, or prenatal care
5. Support Mental Health and Crisis Care
- Hired part-time counselors for crisis response teams or schools
- Funded therapy or evaluations for 30–50 individuals
- Helped run a community grief, addiction, or trauma support program
6. Youth and Education Support
- Bought 335 Chromebooks for students
- Funded a summer literacy or arts program for underserved youth
- Supplied hundreds of backpacks and school kits
7. Improve Transportation Access
- Provided 1,340 monthly bus passes at $50 each
- Funded rideshare credits or paratransit for elders and disabled residents
8. Disaster Preparedness
- Supplied storm kits or emergency radios for 2,000 low-income households
- Supported flood recovery or neighborhood resilience workshops
9. Fund a Full College Scholarship
- Covered four years of tuition, books, housing, and living expenses
- Changed the trajectory of a first-generation student’s life — and their family’s future
10. Launch Small Local Businesses
- Funded $5,000 seed grants for 13 new entrepreneurs
- Covered setup costs for a community-owned storefront or cooperative
11. Support Mental Health or Addiction Recovery
- Paid for 670 therapy sessions at $100 each
- Covered one month in residential treatment for 9 people
- Funded a peer support group or part-time recovery coordinator
12. Create Local Jobs or Internships
- Provided $6,700 stipends to 10 young people or returning citizens
- Funded part-time work for community organizers or artists
13. Care for Elders
- Provided 3,350 hours of in-home elder care
- Purchased safety gear, ramps, and assistive devices for dozens of seniors
14. Fund Crisis Support Services
- Staffed a local crisis hotline for up to a year
- Paid for emergency hotel stays for 100 families facing domestic violence
15. Distribute Emergency Cash Assistance
- Offered $500 grants to 134 families for critical needs — eviction fees, car repairs, prescriptions
- Distributed anonymously through clinics, churches, shelters, or mutual aid
16. Support Artists and Storytellers
- Funded $2,000 grants for 33 local creatives
- Sponsored a mobile art-and-healing van, mural series, or oral history project
17. Build Community Resilience
- Installed crosswalks, streetlights, or cooling stations
- Funded disaster prep workshops and outreach for 2,000+ households
Closing Statement
Community needs vary from person to person, household to household. We don’t all need the same things at the same time. But we all need. We all need support. And we need our tax money working for us and with us — not being decided for us by people whose bank accounts, daily lives, and generational experience have never once touched the conditions we live in.
That isn’t ethical. It’s immoral. It’s nonsensical. And in many cases, it’s probably illegal.