Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

At least...

At least Cristie Hammond did not roll out her patented, ''I think this is leading us toward a Orwellian future'' remark again.

All in the name of safety

Keep your blinders on and just drink the kool-aid. ''We're making you safer, no really''

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/11063550/detail.html

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/may/11/no-cameras-increase-accident-rates/

RITA and the cameras

If I thought for one minute that going into the Council or the Safety Committee and voicing my opinion would do any good, then I would try it. These red light cameras have been in the news for months now and I have found no one in the city in favor of them and some have voiced their opinions to council including last night. The council ignored their remarks.

The second point is that the decision making process of this council is very flawed. If you look at the issue of the RITA vote they were saying they wanted to reduce costs. Most on council got all of their information on RITA from the company sales people. I think at times that Mr. Wisniewski is the only council member that even attempts any outside research on these companies. I hear now that the idea of RITA was to reduce the number of Staff members and yet they will retain the two income tax clerks currently on staff.

On the RED LIGHT cameras, apparently Mr. Wisniewski is the only one calling around. Fix and his supporters are relying on staff and this company providing the equipment. This company stands to make a profit and they are providing all of the information and political spin to convince people that these cameras are a good thing. Clearly these cameras are controversial. Once they are in place those on council will either face the wrath of the drivers in the city or they will be praised for new safety standards. Here is a hint most drivers will not see any improvement in safety if they are not directly involved in an accident. They will see traffic backed up and if they are unjustly accused of running a red light. They will also feel the crash of a driver in a hurry if they hit their brakes hard to avoid a red light.

The problem this council will find itself in is that they are making decisions the voters will perceive as revenue enhancing and question the need for new or additional taxes. Both the RITA and the cameras present potential aggrevation to the voters of this city. That is not what you want if you are asking them for more money in taxes. We all have enough problems with our taxes and many times need advice over the phone to complete the form. If the day that I am doing my city taxes, I also receive a traffic ticket from the city on a date that I was either out of town or not driving my car then my opinion of the city will not be in very high regard.

If both the RITA and the red light cameras turn out to be failures and controversial then this council will look like bumbling idiots. I am seeing a growing frustration now in the city and in will not take long to remove those on council with their heads in the wrong place. I wouldn?’t be surprised to see a referendum run on this ordinance.

By Waiting for the other shoe

Are you a Red Light Runner ??

Less than 1% of the people in Pickerington need to worry about the red light cameras......are you one of them ???????

By Gary