www [ [ net

etee · Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 8:11 am Post subject: First Casualty of "Safe Clear"

"SafeClear", the controversial program for mandatory towing of disabled vehicles on Houston's freeways, claimed its first victim last night. A car was disabled on I-10, and the owner was (apparently) trying to get some gas when the tow truck arrived. As the owner attempted to CROSS THE FREEWAY to get back to the vehicle, he was struck by several cars and killed.

Ironically, the rationale behind "Safe Clear" is that, by towing disabled vehicles quickly, the risk of accident and injury/death is reduced. Also, proposals to improve the program are caught up in "paralysis by analysis" at City Hall.

Just another reason to stay off of Houston's freeways.
_________________
Cheers,
-etee
"Supreme Commander of the Buffalo Wing, Spicey Chicken Cartel"

BobCat · Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 10:46 pm Post subject:

How much do you wanna make a bet that it is mayoral cronies doing the towing?
_________________
--BobCat
Spicey Chicken Cartel (tinSCC)#23, Lumber Cartel (tinLC)#1606
"Spam is used by lusers who don't want to do business with you ethically."

etee · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 2:00 pm Post subject:

Actually, it isn't. The operators (who have exclusive rights to their section of freeway) have had to pay (dearly) for the privilege. To the tune of about $1 Million/year. If I recall, they did a sealed-bid "auction". The current mayor, unlike the former mayors, really doesn't have his fingers in the various pies (mostly real estate development).

A Rice U. professor who helped design the program has admitted that the way they (the tow operators) will make their money is by impounding/selling the vehicles of the poor folk who can't afford to pay the $75+ towing fee. This may well be the final nail in the coffin of this whole mess.
_________________
Cheers,
-etee
"Supreme Commander of the Buffalo Wing, Spicey Chicken Cartel"

BobCat · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:21 am Post subject:

Anytime that a government can screw someone over, they invariably do, through the law of unintended consequences.
_________________
--BobCat
Spicey Chicken Cartel (tinSCC)#23, Lumber Cartel (tinLC)#1606
"Spam is used by lusers who don't want to do business with you ethically."

etee · Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 8:32 am Post subject:

From the local NBC affiliate's web site:

BobCat · Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 7:18 pm Post subject:

Criminals working for the government? Whodathunkit! Razz

_________________
--BobCat
Spicey Chicken Cartel (tinSCC)#23, Lumber Cartel (tinLC)#1606
"Spam is used by lusers who don't want to do business with you ethically."

etee · Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 8:10 am Post subject:

Actually, this would be like the city contracting with someone to take care of kids at a day care center, and us finding out that 1/3 of the employees of the day care center were convicted child abusers/molesters. The drivers aren't employees of the city per se, rather their employers are under contract.
_________________
Cheers,
-etee
"Supreme Commander of the Buffalo Wing, Spicey Chicken Cartel"

BobCat · Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:43 pm Post subject:

One can "work for the city" as an employee, contractor, subcontractor, volunteer, or whatever. I wasn't implying an IRS categorization Smile

_________________
--BobCat
Spicey Chicken Cartel (tinSCC)#23, Lumber Cartel (tinLC)#1606
"Spam is used by lusers who don't want to do business with you ethically."