Disabled activism

David Morrison, local advocate for people with disabilities, writes in the StarNews (link) about the apparent difficulty they have refueling their vehicles. He asks why should “15 million drivers with disabilities have to drive around on fumes to find an accessible pump?” This raises the question: why are people driving around so incapacitated that they can’t refuel their vehicles. Sounds like a public safety problem rather than an issue of personal inconvenience. But Mr. Morrison seems more concerned with convenience—and imposing more government regulations—than safety.

Morrison points out that the federal Americans with Disability Act requires every gas pump to have a “call button.” But he doesn’t tell us how much that has cost consumers. And that’s not good enough for his interests. He and advocacy groups, such as the United Spinal Association, expect that every gas station in America should have attendants available at any time to personally “assist them” in pumping gasoline.

Morrison promotes the Disability Gas Coalition—activists who pressure businesses and legislators to require gas stations to provide personal assistance to people who drive but supposedly can’t pump gasoline into their vehicles. We assume they would require that every driver with a “Handicapped” tag be given this service free of charge—but it won’t be free. We will all pay.

Obviously, this mandated service would put a huge burden on gas stations; and, of course, would increase the cost of services for all customers.

No American able to do so would refuse to assist someone with a disability in an emergency. However, this new demand for government regulated special service is unreasonable.

An unintended consequence of sounds-good legislation results in advocates using established bureaucracies to regulate public and private services according to their whims, resulting in inconvenience and additional costs to the majority of people. One egregious example is a new ADA regulation that all public swimming pools be equipped with wheelchair access equipment. The result: pools will not be available to many of us because most providers can’t afford it.

It’s unfortunate that some people have disabilities that restrict their activities. But these people are accommodated in many ways through law, and by charities and individuals willing to help them. In my opinion, it is inconsiderate and selfish for advocates to expect the rest of us to be more regulated, inconvenienced and charged more so that a relatively small number of disabled people can attempt to participate in every normal life activity.

Government Imports Feral Cats?

One would think that we would have learned that importing one species to fix another perceived problem would have died out by the time the 20th century showed up, much less the 21st century.  From Kudzu in the southeastern US, to the mongooses of the Caribbean, to the opossums of New Zealand to the countless other imported solution turned problem across the planet.   Holden Beach has decided that lesson doesn’t apply to them.

The town recently decided to introduce the cats as a show of compassion and as a deterrent to rodents, she said. Any feral cat caught and brought to the county’s animal shelter is euthanized within 72 hours.  ”You have to have someone that knows what they are doing,” said Brunswick County 1st Sgt. Thomas Tolley, the animal services director. “That’s so the colony can maintain its health and integrity.”

Just a bad idea. . . . . “compassion” . . .  really?

When Local/State Government Fails

The Wilmington traffic nightmare that unfolded Friday afternoon into Saturday was epic:

(StarNews) – The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge closed Friday night amid miscommunication from the state Department of Transportation, catching thousands of frustrated motorists unaware and causing huge traffic snarls in Brunswick and New Hanover counties. By midmorning Saturday, cars were backed up as far as Magnolia Greens on U.S. 17.

And then there’s this fine nugget of information from Tammy Stewart, DOT spokesperson:

The Department of Transportation has 14 divisions, which funnel traffic and closure information to the communications department, which then disseminates that information to the public. Stewart was unclear where the breakdown in communication occurred, and was also unsure if Monday night’s scheduled closing would proceed as planned. ”There isn’t anything they’ve sent us,” she said. “I don’t know if wires got crossed or what – I don’t know.“

Not acceptable, completely unnecessary and costly!  And, of course, nothing from an editorial perspective in the local print media.

Pro-Tax Stadium Chamber Still In Hiding

Approximately six weeks out and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce is still in hiding.  After being embarrassed on WECT (a story that was mysteriously removed) the Chamber then gets another buried story on not releasing ANY information from their two surveys. From the StarNews:

The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce will not be releasing results of telephone poll gauging opinions about a proposed baseball stadium. “We’re not going to release those poll results,” said Chamber President and CEO Connie Majure-Rhett, who has supported a baseball stadium. In August, Majure-Rhett said the Chamber was conducting research that included polling. “We just did it to test messaging,” she said. The poll was commissioned by Capstrat, a large Raleigh-based public relations firm that is working with baseball supporters. Majure-Rhett said they would use the polls to help hone their messaging in advertisements and speeches.

Short version, they know the public doesn’t support it.  They know they can’t make rational arguments for it.  And they can only be TOLD how to speak in public via a public relations firm because they have no common sense ability to speak for themselves.  It is a sad commentary to see the Chamber fall so far.  It is also sad to see WECT pull a story which makes their integrity questionable as well.   Funny how most of the Chamber Board of Directors are almost in hiding over this one.

Democrats Honor Of Soles, Disturbing

There is much that can be said, but the fact that anyone in Columbus would honor Senator Soles is troublesome.  Do democrats really want to be close to this odd fixture?  Why not invite former Gov. Easley?

How Comfortable Is Hypocrisy?

Apparently, the answer is, “VERY” according to researchers:

If you were asked about a moral issue, say prostitution or illegal immigration, and were then asked about it again a few moments later, would you hold the same belief? You might think so, but new research from Sweden shows there’s not only a good chance that you will change your mind, but that you will vehemently defend the very opposite of the position you reported merely moments ago. 

Might well explain how the city leaders might believe that a taxpayer funded stadium is a good idea while also reading the overwhelming studied research against that being the case. In other words, they can defend both positions and still feel comfortable.

Kenan Fountain. . . Taxpayers Burden and Icon

It is clearly controversial to discuss anything less than having the Kenan Fountain remain where it is at the intersection of 5th and Market.  In the 50s, the federal highway folks recommended moving it, built in 1921, it has been hit dozens and dozens of times and has been costly to taxpayers to maintain.  BUT it does make for an interesting argument.

Should the fountain be altered, moved, painted, lit up, redesigned, etc. . . due to the people’s irresponsible behavior or should it remain and be subjected to a constant barrage of tire scrubbing and actual impacts because it’s at a busy intersection?

That’s the discussion. While insurance will pay for the repair (almost $80k) the city is considering spending $400k to update, modify, alter everything around it.  At what cost does the public bear the burden for the irresponsible people who hit it or the poor location of the fountain to begin with?

Berger Files

New Hanover County Commissioner Brian Berger (R) finds himself in the hot seat once again for NOT showing up at a meeting, this time one he got a scholarship to attend in Chapel Hill.

(Port City Daily) –  After New Hanover County Commissioner Brian Berger said he’d received an unwelcome reception when he offered to settle his travel debt with the county, County Manager Chris Coudriet sent Berger an email saying he had a much different recollection of the issue.

Truth is, it shouldn’t be this complicated. It isn’t for county commissioners and other local officials across the state.  If you register for a conference, attend it.  Staff works to get the schedules and details taken care of, go.  But this has become a sad habit with Berger and is simply a distraction from the issues that he should be focused on solving.

He ran as a conservative that would stop wasteful spending and expose corruption.  To date, he has been more of a story than the issues he claimed to champiom.

RC Soles. . Is He The Bond Man?

District Attorney Jon David, appearing on the Big Talker FM first folks that BJ Wright had violated a $1m bond in Columbus County that many have speculated was paid by former Senator RC Soles.  The conclusion being that nobody else in proximity to Wright could have or would have done so except the former senator.

During that interview, David also confirmed that someone had paid for Wright’s wife to be released from jail for jury tampering.  Her bond had been set at $500k.  Again, speculation being that the former senator was once again involved.  David never speculated nor would he care who paid for the bond, but it is worth noting that it happened.

Attorney General Roy Cooper still confirms that the RC Soles investigation is “open” but has not rendered a final decision.  It is a shame that this area of the state will likely never know what really happened for decades and is still likely happening now.

Mayor Saffo Compares Stadium To Moon Landing??

In a bizarre interview moment, Wilmigton Mayor Bill Saffo compared building a taxpayer funded stadium to landing a man on the moon in the middle of the Vietnam War. . . just odd.  Really?

Here’s the interview over at WHQR.  It’s about 3 minutes long.