IJR News — today's news from every sideRachel Meyers I hope the new look holds up well without needing constant touch ups. Chris Dalton It might look sharp but I still think the money could go toward actual repairs instead. Rachel Meyers An expert confirming it will look sharp shows this might be one of the better updates to the mall in years. Rachel Meyers I still think the original look was fine but if the new paint job holds up and looks cool then it could be worth trying. Dana Whitfield If an expert thinks this sharpens the reflections then it was probably worth doing. Elena Vasquez Why blue though? The pool always looked fine without it, and now it might stand out too much. Sam Okafor I still question spending money on cosmetic changes when basic maintenance around the mall gets ignored. Tom Gallagher I still think the money could have gone to fixing other park issues, even if the finish looks nice. Nicole Hardy A new paint job could make the Lincoln Memorial area stand out nicely without needing major construction. Jared Kim If the expert is right about sharper reflections, it could improve photos of the Lincoln Memorial quite a bit. Marcus Bell A paint job might look fine but I still question whether this was the best use of public funds. Chris Dalton Experts saying it will look sharp makes sense, since the old surface was probably faded and dull. Priya Raman If the water stays cleaner with this paint it could be worth it for visitors taking photos. Derek Foss Painting the pool for sharper reflections sounds like a practical upgrade worth trying. Priya Raman It's good to hear an expert say the color choice will actually turn out sharp instead of tacky. Marcus Bell A slower labor market like this should finally ease wage pressures and help control prices. Nicole Hardy I don't care how sharp it looks if the paint chips after one winter and needs constant touch ups. Dana Whitfield A fresh paint job might help the water reflect the monuments better but I still think the original finish had its own character. Sam Okafor Spending money on cosmetic tweaks like this feels unnecessary when basic maintenance issues at the monuments still need attention. Maya Lindstrom Surprised the expert says it will look sharp, but a solid color might actually highlight the Lincoln Memorial better than murky water. Sam Okafor A fresh paint job could make the whole National Mall area more appealing to visitors. 
