Or, some silly ideas that didn’t make it into the proposed city budget. Because, if you’re going to charge non-residents to get in an auto accident, anything is possible:
• A public TV-style fundraiser. Think of the premium possibilities — give $100, and you can sit in the horseshoe during a city council meeting. Or $50 gets you a ride in a police car.
• Sell naming rights to city property and events. Mayor Park Cities has actually suggested this, but he didn’t take it far enough. We have streets, we have bridges, we have city buildings, and who knows what else? Frankly, I’d give $200 to have my local library branch named for me. And I know my pal Jim Schutze at the Observer would be happy to pony up a couple of hundred more to have the city council chambers named for him.
• A style tax. Let’s face it –- non-Dallas residents are not nearly as cool as we are. So everyone who comes to Dallas will have to pay for the privilege. How about $25 a visit?
• City-themed gift shops. If we’re going into the hotel business, why not retail? We can open a string of these throughout the area, selling T-shirts, coffee mugs, and assorted trinkets. How about a Mayor Leppert beer cozy?
• Car washes. Who wouldn’t pull into the city hall parking lot if various council members and top city staffers were there, hosing down vehicles? I wonder: Who would get to hold the sign and holler at passing cars as they drive by? That’s a big job.
