Editorial: Plaza inauguration viewing a first
Publication Date: 01/17/09
On Tuesday, the United States inaugurates Barack Obama as its 44th president and first African-American to hold the office.
When Obama takes the oath of office at noon Tuesday, if you can't be in Washington on the Mall, then be in the Plaza de la Constitucion and watch in on a large screen. The celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Why stay holed up in an office before a small screen when you can enjoy the event outdoors in fresh air?
Tuesday's forecast so far is for sunny weather with temps between 43 and 61, the latter around 2 p.m.
A grass-roots group led by Dee Lovell has put together the event. As best we can tell this is the first time there's been a television viewing set up in the Plaza for an inauguration. The Plaza has been around since the late 1500s as the center of the town, a public market, a gathering place in the shadow of Government House.
Take your lunch break but bring a chair.
When will you ever get to see an inauguration this close up again?
The City Commission gave the OK Monday for the event to take place. Mayor Joe Boles is paying the $150 usage fee, lest anyone who disapproves think the city is promoting a partisan event. Our president-elect is a Democrat but come Tuesday, he will be our nation's president.
Come out and celebrate our nation's changing of the guard.
Free parking and shuttles
Francis Field on Castillo Drive will be open for free parking for the event. Free shuttles will run from there, 10:30 a.m. till 2:30 p.m., by Old Town Trolleys and Ripley's Sightseeing Trains. They'll also provide free bus transportation from the Galimore Center on Riberia Street and from Collier-Blocker-Puryear Park (formerly Calvin Peete Park) on West King Street, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Buses will return to those places after the Plaza event is over.
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