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No Statehouse holiday lights again this year

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Illinois

It’s safety – not money or the pandemic – keeping the holiday lights off the Capitol dome in Springfield this season.

Worker safety is paramount, but Henry Haupt, a spokesman for the Illinois secretary of state’s office, says there’s more: an engineering study determined the observation deck – atop the dome and at the base of the flagpole – can no longer support the light strings, which become heavy with ice and are typically up for a couple of months on either side of the holiday season.

This has been an ongoing problem. From last year…

Lights on the Capitol dome won’t be used for the second consecutive year. Engineers have recommended that an observation deck, which is typically used to anchor the lights, should be fortified.

“We are working with the Capital Development Board to procure funding for this project,” said Henry Haupt, spokesman for Secretary of State Jesse White.

This is the third holiday season in a row that we’ve been waiting on CDB to do something. There’s construction around the Statehouse because of the 2019 capital bill, but this little problem can’t be fixed?

* Related…

* Illinois is getting $18 billion from the feds for infrastructure. Plans for spending it are trickling out.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 10:29 am

Comments

Bummer.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 10:32 am
Thinking this should go under an “Our Sorry State” topic.
This is really pathetic.

Comment by Back to the Future Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 10:37 am
CDB is second only to CMS in the list of agencies that are too slow or incompetent to accomplish simple projects.

Comment by The Real Downstate Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 10:38 am
===second only to CMS===

I dunno. There’s also IDOT.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 10:39 am
Maybe it’s a bigger problem than one might think. I mean, if it can’t support the weight of Christmas lights, that’s likely a sign of major structural issues, which won’t be cheap to fix being at height and everything.

Comment by thisjustinagain Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 10:44 am
The structural problems obviously need to be addressed.

Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 10:51 am
Illustrates the incompetence in Springfield and the lack of making this priority. Many communities have recently spent to beautify streetscapes and municipal buildings and grounds with updated holiday lights. JB could/should take this on as a private cause, I mean everyone loves holiday lights right? Could even help Springfield tourism if done with flair.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 11:27 am
Whatever the problem is, it surely won’t be cheap given how difficult it is to get access to this part of the State House. What elected official wants to justify spending a million dollars or so so we can have holiday lights?

Comment by Just Me 2 Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 11:36 am
I am cool with that as long as they have the Satanic Temple display again.

Comment by AJack Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 12:05 pm
Its the war on Christmas

Comment by Unionman Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 1:01 pm
Will we have the Festivus pole this year?

Comment by Joe Schmoe Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 1:23 pm
It’s also time to rethink the holiday lights display and maybe jazz it up a little… I’ve always been less than impressed with the way the lights are strung.

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 2:10 pm
Illinois: killing our fake freedoms one holiday at a time. /s

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 2:12 pm
Why can’t they install some green and red floodlights around the base of the dome? Holiday colors and no stress on the upper parts of the structure.

Comment by IllinoisBoi Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 3:39 pm
The former great state of…. and current land of mediocrity

Comment by NorthsideNoMore Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 3:49 pm
==Why can’t they install some green and red floodlights around the base of the dome?–

Or what about red and green (plus some white) moving searchlights? Similar to what you see at Hollywood and movie openings. Unless that risks harming air traffic.

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 4:26 pm
Also, unless that’s affected by the observation deck problems, since the start of the budget impasse in summer 2015, the Capitol Dome lights have been completely turned off. Even after the impasse ended and Pritzker’s reelection, SOS hasn’t turned the dome lights back on. Maybe turn the Dome lights back on and have red, green, and white bulbs?

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 6:17 pm
According to @classywarfare: “The War on Christmas cannot end until Christmas stops its illegal occupation of November.” (Credit to For What It’s Worth)

Comment by West Side the Best Side Tuesday, Nov 23, 21 @ 9:33 pm