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The Contradiction Zone

 



There have been some interesting comments in response to the County’s proposal to institute additional school safety zones. 

Howard County wants to add 18 new school zones for increased traffic enforcement, Jess Nocera, Baltimore Banner

No one, as far as I know, is in favor of speeding and/or other unsafe driving around children and young people. On the other hand, very few want to see more speed cameras, either. Some suggest that the move is purely to generate more revenue for the county rather than to protect safety around schools. Here’s a response on the Banner website itself:

Yep, just more revenue for the People's Republic of Howard County. Can you believe my tax bill went DOWN when I moved ... and not to Florida but to New Jersey. HoCo's gold-plated services don't come free.

I have questions. What constitutes a gold-plated service? Why do you think that gold-plated service should be free when it comes to government? Where in your life are you able to get gold-plated service at no cost?

A bigger question is: what is the evidence that increased traffic safety measures are purely meant to finance other, unrelated things? Show me your proof.

I find some responses I am seeing rather mind-boggling because I haven’t forgotten public pushback to the Downtown Library project. So much of it amounted to:

Their demands? Spending is to be limited to schools, law enforcement, fire protection and infrastructure.

- - Community Starter Kit, Village Green/Town², 11/13/2024

Make up your mind, folks. 

There’s an odd double standard when it comes to speed cameras. So often we see people* saying no one need fear the police if they are doing nothing wrong. I’ve even seen this argument used to defend surveillance cameras like Flock. They don’t think surveillance cameras are coming for them. Other people’s civil liberties? Who cares?

Yet, at the same time, they’re not at all sure they wouldn’t be caught by an ordinary speed camera while in violation of traffic laws. That might happen to them. 

So we shouldn’t have them. They’re just a cash grab.

Make up your mind, folks. 

What do you support?

One Facebook comment on this article made more sense to me:

How about adding sidewalks so students do not have to walk in the road to get to school. Start with Donleigh Drive so the elementary kids can walk safely  to Atholton Elementary! 

I absolutely agree that sidewalks would make school walkers more safe. Yet you’d be surprised how many people oppose them. 

I’ve never understood the lack of sidewalks in many places around the county. When I’ve written about this issue I learned there are a number of neighborhoods that have actively fought sidewalks in the past. That reminds me that there’s a vocal contingent that opposes the Complete Streets initiative, too.

Remember Complete Streets?

To ensure that Howard County is a place for individuals of all backgrounds to live and travel freely, safely, and comfortably, public and private roadways in Howard County shall be safe and convenient for residents of all ages and abilities who travel by foot, bicycle, public transportation or automobile, ensuring sustainable communities Countywide.

- -  From Howard County's Complete Streets Policy Statement

Is that a gold-plated service? It looks like both public safety and infrastructure to me. 

Is it possible that a concerning number of speeding incidents and other unsafe driving practices are the reason this is being proposed? If people just took responsibility for being safe drivers - - observant, careful, respectful - - we’d have nothing to be complaining about.

Oh, but where’s the fun in that? Some people always need something to complain about, even if they manage to contradict themselves on a regular basis.


Village Green/Town² Comments 



*Let’s be honest: white people. 


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