An aerial view shows Albany’s so called “parking lot district,” between Hudson Avenue and Liberty Street. Should the city put some of the funding it’s set to receive into creating Holiday Lights in the Park(ing Lot District)?

Albany, as you may have heard, received a nice surprise in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed budget: $200 million targeted at getting more people to work, visit and live downtown.

How should the state allocate the money? That, of course, is the $200 million question, and you wouldn’t be foolish to fear the money will be wasted on silly things unlikely to make an impact. To prevent that, I’m offering a list of idiotic, err, I meant awesome proposals.

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You’re welcome.

A State Street funicular

Americans don’t like exercise, especially walking. Unfortunately, downtown Albany was built on a hill that demands a sweat-inducing walk up State Street — a challenge no shopping mall imposes. A funicular is the obvious and inarguably fantastic solution.

Imagine, if you will, a little railway system that would carry riders from Broadway up that ghastly hill to the Capitol. Maybe the ride costs a buck or so, an expense anyone facing that grueling climb would happily pay. And........

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