Ya know…I’m just sick and tired of the Fed’s and the State taking our money and them paying some stupid goon (or 100’s) to make sure the City does what it tells them to do. They are wasting our money by having a babysitter to watch the babysitter tell the kids to do something. I believe we are “big enough and old enough” to know what we are supposed to do AND will probably do it better without them telling us HOW! Ya Ya… I know I’m preaching to the choir!
Andy, I have observed way too many times some severe red light running at some of City intersections, especially Rolling Road and Sudley. I am talking about cars and trucks never even slowing down as they approach the light. What is your take on red light cameras. Red light running seems to be a new norm in driving habits lately.
@Mary: I’m am not, in general, wild about the gov’t festooning every possible stop sign, light and pole with cameras. I think the number of cameras we have now is patently absurd – I can’t imagine we have the staff to actually watch all of those cameras.
Having said that, I also believe that if you have a demonstrated problem at an intersection that red light cameras can help solve it and I’m not opposed to that. There are those that argue that it increases the number of rear-end collisions but to me that says more about the way people drive than it does about the camera.
BTW, you want to see real danger? Go stand on the museum lawn when the VRE train lets people off. I’m surprised there aren’t fist fights. The light at Pr. William and Grant backs up past West St. but people still won’t let you cross the intersection and hang a left – terrified they might let one extra car through – even though you’re going the other way.
Have you called the City Police, not necessary to try to report individual red-light runners, but to tell them about the issue in general? Or have you used the City’s online FixIT From to otherwise tell them about this issue? My personal reaction would be to try to get increased traffic enforcement in those areas versus jumping to the idea of red light cameras.
@AndyH
I wasn’t keep beating a dead horse since this issue was covered once already but since its back I guess I have to fight you.
First, the Los Angeles City Council voted to get rid of them at the end of July for the various issues they had with them. Look on the left sidebar of that article for more of that story. Also click on “Red-light Cameras” in the “MORE STORIES ABOUT” section on the left sidebar to see even more stories- including one how they were issuing tickets to the police responding to emergencies in DC back in ’07!
Second, you’re ignoring the main reasons people are against those things. Focusing on the accident part is ignoring the main reasons such as them being revenue increasers rather then true public safety devices and how they allow the private sector to become law enforcers though the camera contracts jurisdictions make with them.
Third, even if cameras may help at a problem intersection, having actual police there would help much more.
And fourth, since you say that the City staff might not be enough to monitor everything we have now, I can only presume the City would have to use a private contractor. Maybe you’re comfortable with the private sector entering the realm of sworn law enforcement, but I’m not. I’m not crazy about the idea of taxpayers paying for some company to come in and install the cameras and issue the tickets, which may/may not be enforced by our courts, versus using all that money to have more officers performing traffic enforcement at problem intersections.
FYI –Declaration of Local Emergency-
“Whereas, Governor McDonnell has declared a state of emergency
for the Commonwealth of Virginia, due to impending Hurricane Irene
due the weekend of August 26, 2011; and
Whereas this local emergency declaration is in accordance with
Section 44-146.21, of the Virginia Emergency Services and Disaster Law.
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the City Council of Manassas,
meeting in Special Session this 25th day of August, 2011, adopts
Resolution No. R2012-10 and consents and confirms the Local Director
of Emergency Management’s declared local emergency, effective
immediately and to be cancelled at a future time depending on conditions,
in accordance with Declaration of Local Emergency and the Virginia
Code Section 44-146.21 (a) as amended.
Mindful of our many pleasant associations with
Hunter Tiffany, we cannot omit an expression of regret
that he has found it necessary to relinquish his duties
as Town Manager of Manassas.
The job of Town Manager is an arduous one.
The incumbent has not one boss, but five top bosses,
and in a broader sense, as many bosses as there are adult
citizens in the town. The funds at his disposal to meet
the multitudinous request for improvements have been
relatively meager, and let it be said also that the Town Council
has not always been clearly decided as to just what
it wanted the Town Manager to do.
We are sure that the people of Manassas appreciate his
years of loyal service as Town Manager and wish him a happy
retirement.
-Manassas Journal editorial (9-14-1948)
And almost sixty-three years later, we prepare to say goodbye
to another hard working, loyal and long serving Manager.
Note: The council had four members and a Mayor in the 1940’s.
It was later expanded by two.
So much for a different City Attorney. Talk about a stupid decision by the City Council. Once again, the City Council seems by this vote to not care about the issues facing the City.
August 23, 2011 at 7:49 am
Was in Arlington on Sunday afternoon. Saw all the bike lanes. Hope Manassas and PWC become that bike-friendly.
August 23, 2011 at 8:30 am
Ya know…I’m just sick and tired of the Fed’s and the State taking our money and them paying some stupid goon (or 100’s) to make sure the City does what it tells them to do. They are wasting our money by having a babysitter to watch the babysitter tell the kids to do something. I believe we are “big enough and old enough” to know what we are supposed to do AND will probably do it better without them telling us HOW! Ya Ya… I know I’m preaching to the choir!
August 23, 2011 at 9:22 am
Friday night I noticed on Hastings by my house in Winterset area where they put bike lane symbols on the road, that was new.
August 23, 2011 at 1:25 pm
Wow – that was an earthquake!
CNN reporting a 5.8 centered near Mineral, Va. in the Richmond area.
August 23, 2011 at 1:26 pm
Yeah – crazy.
August 25, 2011 at 6:28 am
Andy, I have observed way too many times some severe red light running at some of City intersections, especially Rolling Road and Sudley. I am talking about cars and trucks never even slowing down as they approach the light. What is your take on red light cameras. Red light running seems to be a new norm in driving habits lately.
August 25, 2011 at 7:36 am
@Mary: I’m am not, in general, wild about the gov’t festooning every possible stop sign, light and pole with cameras. I think the number of cameras we have now is patently absurd – I can’t imagine we have the staff to actually watch all of those cameras.
Having said that, I also believe that if you have a demonstrated problem at an intersection that red light cameras can help solve it and I’m not opposed to that. There are those that argue that it increases the number of rear-end collisions but to me that says more about the way people drive than it does about the camera.
BTW, you want to see real danger? Go stand on the museum lawn when the VRE train lets people off. I’m surprised there aren’t fist fights. The light at Pr. William and Grant backs up past West St. but people still won’t let you cross the intersection and hang a left – terrified they might let one extra car through – even though you’re going the other way.
August 25, 2011 at 3:06 pm
@Mary Ann Tyler
Have you called the City Police, not necessary to try to report individual red-light runners, but to tell them about the issue in general? Or have you used the City’s online FixIT From to otherwise tell them about this issue? My personal reaction would be to try to get increased traffic enforcement in those areas versus jumping to the idea of red light cameras.
@AndyH
I wasn’t keep beating a dead horse since this issue was covered once already but since its back I guess I have to fight you.
First, the Los Angeles City Council voted to get rid of them at the end of July for the various issues they had with them. Look on the left sidebar of that article for more of that story. Also click on “Red-light Cameras” in the “MORE STORIES ABOUT” section on the left sidebar to see even more stories- including one how they were issuing tickets to the police responding to emergencies in DC back in ’07!
Second, you’re ignoring the main reasons people are against those things. Focusing on the accident part is ignoring the main reasons such as them being revenue increasers rather then true public safety devices and how they allow the private sector to become law enforcers though the camera contracts jurisdictions make with them.
Third, even if cameras may help at a problem intersection, having actual police there would help much more.
And fourth, since you say that the City staff might not be enough to monitor everything we have now, I can only presume the City would have to use a private contractor. Maybe you’re comfortable with the private sector entering the realm of sworn law enforcement, but I’m not. I’m not crazy about the idea of taxpayers paying for some company to come in and install the cameras and issue the tickets, which may/may not be enforced by our courts, versus using all that money to have more officers performing traffic enforcement at problem intersections.
August 25, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Sure, having actual police is always better, if you can afford them.
August 26, 2011 at 9:13 am
New Jersey Governor in his speech on preparing for Irene said it is “a hundred year storm”…now where have I heard that phrase before???
August 26, 2011 at 9:14 am
Hope his dam is armored…:)
August 26, 2011 at 11:38 am
FYI –Declaration of Local Emergency-
“Whereas, Governor McDonnell has declared a state of emergency
for the Commonwealth of Virginia, due to impending Hurricane Irene
due the weekend of August 26, 2011; and
Whereas this local emergency declaration is in accordance with
Section 44-146.21, of the Virginia Emergency Services and Disaster Law.
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the City Council of Manassas,
meeting in Special Session this 25th day of August, 2011, adopts
Resolution No. R2012-10 and consents and confirms the Local Director
of Emergency Management’s declared local emergency, effective
immediately and to be cancelled at a future time depending on conditions,
in accordance with Declaration of Local Emergency and the Virginia
Code Section 44-146.21 (a) as amended.
August 26, 2011 at 12:37 pm
http://manassas.patch.com/articles/manassas-readies-for-bad-weather
FYI –
August 31, 2011 at 11:26 am
http://gardenandgun.com/article/julia-reed-south-numbers
– Virginia has a state bat?
September 1, 2011 at 7:41 am
MR. TIFFANY’S DECISION
Mindful of our many pleasant associations with
Hunter Tiffany, we cannot omit an expression of regret
that he has found it necessary to relinquish his duties
as Town Manager of Manassas.
The job of Town Manager is an arduous one.
The incumbent has not one boss, but five top bosses,
and in a broader sense, as many bosses as there are adult
citizens in the town. The funds at his disposal to meet
the multitudinous request for improvements have been
relatively meager, and let it be said also that the Town Council
has not always been clearly decided as to just what
it wanted the Town Manager to do.
We are sure that the people of Manassas appreciate his
years of loyal service as Town Manager and wish him a happy
retirement.
-Manassas Journal editorial (9-14-1948)
And almost sixty-three years later, we prepare to say goodbye
to another hard working, loyal and long serving Manager.
Note: The council had four members and a Mayor in the 1940’s.
It was later expanded by two.
September 14, 2011 at 8:33 pm
So much for a different City Attorney. Talk about a stupid decision by the City Council. Once again, the City Council seems by this vote to not care about the issues facing the City.