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Sad tourists sent home as Eiffel tower closes amid workers strike
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JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
So Ari, how much do you know about French history?
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
Well, you know, I spend most of my time thinking about the Roman Empire, but I do know a bit about the French.
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SUMMERS: Well, then you must know what today is.
SHAPIRO: Obviously, you're referring to the 100th anniversary of the death of Gustave Eiffel, the creator and namesake of the Eiffel Tower, or Eiffel Tower. And in his honor, organizers had planned a day of events and celebration to be held at the monument. But...
SUMMERS: But the Eiffel Tower, which is typically open 365 days a year and draws around 6 million visitors annually, was closed today as union workers at the tower went on strike ahead of contract negotiations with the city, citing complaints about poor management.
SHAPIRO: So instead of climbing to the top of the tower for that perfect selfie, tourists had to pack up and escargot home.
SUMMERS: That's right. They had two baguette lost until, well, whenever the strike is over. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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