Jose wrote:
I think the beautification projects had no impact on the traffic
problems plaguing the city. They had no impact on bridge maintanance.
They had no impact on water quality. They had no impact on corruption.

They made the city prettier, in some places, by some people's opinions.
Maybe this increased tourism, or encouraged businesses to stay rather
than leave. It might have had an effect on rents.

Hmm. Might it have increased taxe revenue too? Thereby allowing more
bridge maintenance? How about those bridge maintenance crews didn't
have to spend as much time working around graffitti? Perhaps they took
more pride in their work? Gave that extra 10%? Made them feel more
professional? That their work wasn't just trashed to no avail by the
next street gang?

But now we're heading off-topic....