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Astroturfing For Speed Cameras

Posted by timothy on from the well-lookie-lookie dept.

New submitter dalosla writes "Chicago's mayor is pushing to change red light cameras near schools and parks into speed cameras. Just about everybody sees it as a cash grab by the city. Today's Chicago Tribune has an article about how the expanded speed camera program would benefit Redflex, the company Greg Goldner, one of the mayor's long time political supporters, lobbies for. This is of merely local interest, but of wider interest in the article would be information about Goldner's astroturfing for Redflex around the country. Redflex is the sole financial supporter for the Traffic Safety Coalition, a 'grassroots' organization to promote more traffic camera usage and fight any attempts to restrict such cameras. Goldner has already successfully facilitated the killing of one anti-camera ballot measure in Texas."

4 of 342 comments (clear)

  1. Think of the children! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This will probably continue for the same reason DUI laws keep getting more draconian - everyone is scared that if they speak against it they will be lambasted as uncaring assholes - which doesn't make for good campaigning. And good luck fighting any tickets you receive in a school zone, you insensitive bastard. You''re putting all of our kids at risk!

    1. Re:Think of the children! by History's+Coming+To · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I boycott these cash generation schemes by stopping at red lights and not going over the speed limit. That'll teach the bastards! Lets see how long they stay up with no revenue being generated!

      --
      Please consider this account deleted, I just can't be bothered with the spam anymore.
    2. Re:Think of the children! by sanosuke001 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I honestly have no problem with the cameras themselves its the 1. lowering yellow light durations and 2. the "fees" required by the outsourced company. Keep yellow lights at a still safe level and do the camera work in-house and I'd be delighted to install these. I don't speed or run red lights anyway; make money off the other people on the road, less taxes for me!

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      -SaNo
  2. Re:City overpaying? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Don't forget the current President is also a Chicagoan, and he's obviously corrupt.

    Conveniently he's a Chicagoan when discussing corrupt Chicago politics, a Washington insider (former Senator) when discussing national politics, and a secret Kenyan when discussing whether he should even be president. Welcome to "Newspin" on the Faux News Network.