A newly unveiled light sculpture on Chicago’s South Loop reportedly cost taxpayers $3.4 million. That’s enough for 78 new police officers, 29 new ambulances, or the ability to fill  282,333 potholes. Instead, government officials decided what the city really needed was a line of eight light-up glass tubes on the side of a road.

A local CBS news affiliate took to the streets to see how the people funding this art project felt about its cost.

“They needed to do something to rehab you know this side of the Loop so, that be a good addition I think,” said Chicagoan Paulette Conway about the lights.

When informed of the cost of the decorative lights she changed her tune.

“Oh my goodness, we didn’t need it then,” she replied.