As I was watching The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo, I asked myself: Why does Sweden look so attractive? And I suddenly realized: all their electric wires are underground. Halifax, on the other hand, still has a long way to go. Above-ground electrical wires really look awful and I don't see any working progress to get rid of the poles and the wires. Though the waterfront and some of downtown has been cleaned up, most of the the downtown still has a forest of crooked wooden poles and a messy tangle of wires obstructing your view whichever way you look. I read somewhere that there is a multi-million dollar project to redo the Cogswell overpasses, which I admit are ugly in extreme. But if we really want Halifax to shine, to move into the 21st century, then put that money into burying the electrical infrastructure. I remember growing up in Hogtown, which is what we called Toronto when the wires were above ground. That was 50 years ago! How is it that Halifax is doing nothing about this? What is the delay? Anyone visiting Halifax is struck by this blemish. You don't see the amazing architectural heritage, everything is obscured, obliterated by this eyesore. When I look out my window, I see black lines carving up my view. Halifax could be the jewel of the north-east instead of being a quaint backwater. Cogswell can wait: a bit of repaving and landscaping will do for now. Bury the wires now! Let's make a silk purse from a sow's ear.
—New to Halifax: C & S
