Officials authorize $3.5 million for 'Tribute in Light' (9/11 anniversary)

[Khephra]

NEW YORK -- Development officials said they would spend up to $3.5 million to ensure that "Tribute in Light," the twin beams of light memorializing the World Trade Center, can be seen on the anniversary of Sept. 11 for the next five years.

The board of the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. voted Thursday to authorize the money to help the Municipal Art Society, the group which produces the display, to buy and maintain the 88 special searchlights needed to create the two beams.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--tributeinlight0709jul09,0,6448111.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

Why do I have the feeling that the lighting of these lights will be a big part of the Republican convention?

[daleo]

1. Doesn't $700,000 per night seem a little steep?

I mean, 3.5 million to ensure that these lights can be seen on Sept 11 for five years works out to 700K per night. The article mentions that 88 searchlights are used, so that comes to nearly $8000 per searchlight per night. This seems a bit on the high side.