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For The Love Of Fountains

http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/Chion/Colin%20McEnroe%20Show%2009-17-2012.mp3

Drinking fountains are such a great answer to everything.
 
Mayor Bloomberg wants New Yorkers to cut back on sugar drinks.
Drinking fountains.
 
Too many bottles in the solid waste stream?
Drinking fountains.
 
Water bottles that may leach chemicals into the water? 
Drinking fountains.
 
And yet, drinking fountains have to fight for their very existence. They are left out of development plans because they have no obvious constituency. 
 
And they just seem to be the second or third choice of everybody, out of some kind of residual sense that they're germy. Today, we're geeking out about drinking fountains, starting with a recent battle right here in Connecticut about whether they need to be in state-licensed rest stops. We'll also look at cities where they're taken more seriously.
 
Leave your comments below, e-mail colin@wnpr.org or Tweet us@wnprcolin.

Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. Colin can be reached at colin@ctpublic.org.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.