http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101 Posted by Editorial Page Editor Dianne Hardisty -- On Wednesday, Feb. 28, Bakersfield City Council members will consider a proposal to spend about $69,000 to landscape and improve the two locations along Highway 99, where the city's &quot;monument signs&quot; greet northbound and soundbound travelers. The existing gray signs with the city's &quot;squiggle&quot; logo are ugly and almost impossible to read, particularly at night. City Council members also will be asked to pick between two redesign options for the signs. Option 1 (costing between $52,200 and $92,200) features a dignified, leaf-accented leaf. Option 2 (costing between $35,200 and $64,200) includes the Bakersfield leaf and squiggle. What do you think? Check out the photos with this posting. Option 1, Option 2 or the existing sign? Posted by Editorial Page Editor Dianne Hardisty -- On Wednesday, Feb. 28, Bakersfield City Council members will consider a proposal to spend about $69,000 to landscape and improve the two locations along Highway 99, where the city's &quot;monument signs&quot; greet northbound and soundbound travelers. The existing gray signs with the city's &quot;squiggle&quot; logo are ugly and almost impossible to read, particularly at night. City Council members also will be asked to pick between two redesign options for the signs. Option 1 (costing between $52,200 and $92,200) features a dignified, leaf-accented leaf. Option 2 (costing between $35,200 and $64,200) includes the Bakersfield leaf and squiggle. What do you think? Check out the photos with this posting. Option 1, Option 2 or the existing sign? en-us This is probably the only issue Jacquie Sullivan and I will ever agree on.  Let me have my moment. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61616 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61616 This is probably the only issue Jacquie Sullivan and I will ever agree on.  Let me have my moment. <font face="Comic Sans MS" size="1">The signs really make no difference in the life of our fair city. But ,somewhat reassured that I will probably <em>never</em>&nbsp; agree with Ms.Sullivan~ the white one is more tasteful,will be easier to see at night. The colors of the other are ,to me, garish.</font> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61681 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61681 <font face="Comic Sans MS" size="1">The signs really make no difference in the life of our fair city. But ,somewhat reassured that I will probably <em>never</em>&nbsp; agree with Ms.Sullivan~ the white one is more tasteful,will be easier to see at night. The colors of the other are ,to me, garish.</font> I agree about it not making a difference in our lives so why doesn't the city leave the old signs alone and put the money to better use? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61683 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61683 I agree about it not making a difference in our lives so why doesn't the city leave the old signs alone and put the money to better use? There are organizations in town, like <a href="http://bikebakersfield.org">Bike Bakersfield</a>, that have taken a much-ridiculed p.r. design--the infamous squiggle--and turned it into an integral part of their own image and brand.&nbsp; If it's totally gotten rid of by the city, then what? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61713 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61713 There are organizations in town, like <a href="http://bikebakersfield.org">Bike Bakersfield</a>, that have taken a much-ridiculed p.r. design--the infamous squiggle--and turned it into an integral part of their own image and brand.&nbsp; If it's totally gotten rid of by the city, then what? <p>Could we just spend a couple hundred bucks and paint a lighter background on the signs we have and get on with the more important issues of running the city government?  Seems like $60,000 to $90,000 for new signs is a good waste of money.  No matter what design is put on the signs, it won't please everybody, so quit trying.  I can't believe we are debating a squiggle vs. a leaf, but hen again, maybe I can.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61716 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61716 <p>Could we just spend a couple hundred bucks and paint a lighter background on the signs we have and get on with the more important issues of running the city government?  Seems like $60,000 to $90,000 for new signs is a good waste of money.  No matter what design is put on the signs, it won't please everybody, so quit trying.  I can't believe we are debating a squiggle vs. a leaf, but hen again, maybe I can.</p> Why not just put a solar powered light on the current sign. If we use the best available, we could still save at least $68,500. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61758 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61758 Why not just put a solar powered light on the current sign. If we use the best available, we could still save at least $68,500. How much did the ugly original sign cost? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61760 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61760 How much did the ugly original sign cost? $45,000 for the sign and an extra $15,000 for the hole in the sign. They had to buy a REALLY BIG drill bit. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61770 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61770 $45,000 for the sign and an extra $15,000 for the hole in the sign. They had to buy a REALLY BIG drill bit. Sure, Bakersfield wasn't a tourist stop because of our <em>signage</em>.... yea, that's the ticket! People couldn't leave here fast enough because the signs on 99 weren't <em>aesthetically pleasing</em>..... I'm just glad the City Council has solved <u>all</u> of our other problems of gang violence, failing schools, health services, <em>etc</em>. so that they could dedicate our resources to our pressing <em>sign issue</em>..... What's next? Might I suggest the Condor's goalie problem? Or perhaps another pass at a new baseball stadium? Sheesh. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61794 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61794 Sure, Bakersfield wasn't a tourist stop because of our <em>signage</em>.... yea, that's the ticket! People couldn't leave here fast enough because the signs on 99 weren't <em>aesthetically pleasing</em>..... I'm just glad the City Council has solved <u>all</u> of our other problems of gang violence, failing schools, health services, <em>etc</em>. so that they could dedicate our resources to our pressing <em>sign issue</em>..... What's next? Might I suggest the Condor's goalie problem? Or perhaps another pass at a new baseball stadium? Sheesh. All I'm saying is that I can make whatever sign they decide on.&nbsp; Just let me know. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61801 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61801 All I'm saying is that I can make whatever sign they decide on.&nbsp; Just let me know. Hey, weren't those &quot;In God We Trust&quot; plaques provided for free? Can't Jacquie&nbsp;apply the same tactics to get these signs built and installed?&nbsp;How about signs that say &quot;Jesus&nbsp;Welcomes You To Bakersfield&quot;? A giant Jesus holding the sign would be a&nbsp;tasteful touch also. Those that ponied-up for the plaques will surely send their checks in for that.&nbsp; http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61804 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61804 Hey, weren't those &quot;In God We Trust&quot; plaques provided for free? Can't Jacquie&nbsp;apply the same tactics to get these signs built and installed?&nbsp;How about signs that say &quot;Jesus&nbsp;Welcomes You To Bakersfield&quot;? A giant Jesus holding the sign would be a&nbsp;tasteful touch also. Those that ponied-up for the plaques will surely send their checks in for that.&nbsp; For goodness' sake, paint it white or something and LET IT ALONE! I agree with everyone who said that the money would be much better spent somewhere else. And I'm sure lots of people on this blog would have plenty of suggestions, if some are needed. DUH! It's a SIGN, people! http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61817 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61817 For goodness' sake, paint it white or something and LET IT ALONE! I agree with everyone who said that the money would be much better spent somewhere else. And I'm sure lots of people on this blog would have plenty of suggestions, if some are needed. DUH! It's a SIGN, people! I think that Bakersfield should leave the sign the way it is, its a good sign and they can use the money on needier things. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61820 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61820 I think that Bakersfield should leave the sign the way it is, its a good sign and they can use the money on needier things. It's not the sign that's the problem. It's the city. A new package is not going to improve the product within. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61821 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61821 It's not the sign that's the problem. It's the city. A new package is not going to improve the product within. Leave the sign the way it is.&nbsp; If they *HAVE* to change it, use the garish one.&nbsp; Fits Bakersfield's &quot;style&quot; better.&nbsp; *AND* it saves the squiggle. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61900 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61900 Leave the sign the way it is.&nbsp; If they *HAVE* to change it, use the garish one.&nbsp; Fits Bakersfield's &quot;style&quot; better.&nbsp; *AND* it saves the squiggle. For pete's sake... I agree they should just paint the existing sign a lighter color and put the money to better use. Although the lighter design is better, its not $52-$92k better. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61957 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61957 For pete's sake... I agree they should just paint the existing sign a lighter color and put the money to better use. Although the lighter design is better, its not $52-$92k better. And use LA sludge to fill in the hole if they hate it so much. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61961 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61961 And use LA sludge to fill in the hole if they hate it so much. If you re-brand, you simply don't keep an old logo. Why re-brand? Unless the old logo was worked into the new logo. But it wasn't. 60,000 bucks was dumped into designing the new logo which had no squiggle. And then Sullivan can't part with the old? It's Marketing 101... ay... I wrote an entire <a href="http://www.nlbelardes.com/blogger/2007/02/squiggle-that-wouldnt-die-bakersfield.html">article</a> about it. -n.l. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61973 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61973 If you re-brand, you simply don't keep an old logo. Why re-brand? Unless the old logo was worked into the new logo. But it wasn't. 60,000 bucks was dumped into designing the new logo which had no squiggle. And then Sullivan can't part with the old? It's Marketing 101... ay... I wrote an entire <a href="http://www.nlbelardes.com/blogger/2007/02/squiggle-that-wouldnt-die-bakersfield.html">article</a> about it. -n.l. <p>Looks to me like someone became infatuated with the &quot;leaf&quot; motif (currently on the GET buses) and wants to push it at any cost.</p> <p>.</p> <p>(Me, I like the squiggle.&nbsp; Sue me.)</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61979 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_61979 <p>Looks to me like someone became infatuated with the &quot;leaf&quot; motif (currently on the GET buses) and wants to push it at any cost.</p> <p>.</p> <p>(Me, I like the squiggle.&nbsp; Sue me.)</p> I like the squiggle too. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_62004 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_62004 I like the squiggle too. I liked the Sun- Fun- Stay- Play retro sign...but I was born here. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_62074 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_62074 I liked the Sun- Fun- Stay- Play retro sign...but I was born here. I like the squiggle too, even knowing that some people say it looks like someone just flatlined. http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_62108 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/firedup/6101/#c_62108 I like the squiggle too, even knowing that some people say it looks like someone just flatlined.