Slog - Comments on Hubris http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris I'm heading down to the Washington Athletic Club to see Tim Eyman debate Ron Sims on Eyman's latest, the traffic-congestion-worsening I-985, but I just looked in my inbox and saw I needn't bother: In an email, Eyman has already declared victory. His reasoning? "Putting a spotlight" on 985 "can only help the 'Yes 985' campaign. And getting the media to report on this critical issue during a crowded presidential/ gubernatorial election year is a real coup." That's a pretty bold assertion, considering that the media coverage of I-985 has been overwhelmingly negative--and considering that just one newspaper, the Olympian, has... Copyright 2008 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:36:39 -0800 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:34:24 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Hernandez I know that as a journalist, you're supposed to be objective and unbiased and all that, but could you do me a huge favor and give him a swift kick in the nuts when you see him? I'd do it myself, but I'm not a WAC member and I'm kind of busy here at the office this morning.

]]> Hernandez http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176493 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176493 Politics Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:43:48 -0800 Comment by J.R. Make it two kicks--I have a lunch date I can't cancel.

]]> J.R. http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176497 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176497 Politics Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:47:00 -0800 Comment by ECB damn, JR - you were supposed to sit at my table!

]]> ECB http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176526 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176526 Politics Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:05:16 -0800 Comment by Ben On red light cameras: Do we have numbers on how effective they are at preventing accidents? The data I've seen has tended to indicate that they end up being used as a revenue source.

Particularly, one of the most effective ways to reduce accidents is to increase yellow-light times, while cities with red light cameras typically will decrease yellow light times because it leads to more violations.

I'm not being facetious here, I'm genuinely curious if there's data I haven't seen.

]]> Ben http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176548 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176548 Politics Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:16:33 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Remind Tim from me that I'm still mad at him for using my old post office to get free service that my Seattle taxes paid for.

I want a refund from him.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176559 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176559 Politics Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:23:46 -0800 Comment by Sad Comment @1 - I'll second that motion!

]]> Sad Comment http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176569 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176569 Politics Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:33:00 -0800 Comment by danielbennettkieneker Hubris is summer in the 2008 with the dewey decimal system and the numbers 362.294 smith 1994 to page 498 bellerophon class 1906

]]> danielbennettkieneker http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176581 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176581 Politics Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:42:20 -0800 Comment by O Red-light cameras cause more accidents then they prevent.

http://hsc.usf.edu/NR/rdonlyres/C1702850-8716-4C2D-8EEB-15A2A741061A/0/2008pp001008OrbanetalRedLightPaperMarch72008formatted.pdf

]]> O http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176642 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176642 Politics Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:21:26 -0800 Comment by Dougsf #8 - That paper was an interesting read but sadly devolved into 7th grade level paranoia.

An excerpt:
"Why Might Insurers Support Cameras If They
Increase Crashes and Costs?
More crashes lead to higher insurance premiums, leading to higher profits, which in turn lead to increases in insurance stock prices."

Was the study funded by the NMA?

]]> Dougsf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176697 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176697 Politics Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:56:20 -0800 Comment by David Wright I don't get ECB's red-light-camera claim. My understanding is that Tim's intiative requires the revenues from red-light-camera tickets to be spent on road improvements. Is that wrong? Assuming that's not wrong:

1. Revenues are fungible, so as long as cities were planning to spend at least that much money on road improvements, they have the same financial incentive to install red-light-cameras.

2. Even if they didn't have a financial incentive, if the cameras do reduce accidents isn't that incentive enough? Are cities run for profit now? If so, can we please get rid of all social services?

]]> David Wright http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176810 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176810 Politics Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:58:30 -0800 Comment by elenchos @10

Cities should be run according to the will of their currently elected representatives. Getting a lot of angry rural idiots to shove some fiscal restriction down Seattle's throat is pure mischief. If we elect a city council that wants to run at a profit, or install one million red light cameras just to watch the pretty lights, what's it to you? At least we can hold somebody accountable for the results.

Really, if everyone out in the exurbs hates civilization that much, move to rural Idaho and do whatever you want.

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176913 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176913 Politics Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:46:58 -0800 Comment by J.R. @10: Simple math, David. Eyman's initiative doesn't allow cities to use red light camera ticket revenues to pay for the camera or its operation--every penny collected goes to the state. So, it's likely that few cities will continue to install or operate red light cameras when they no longer pay for themselves.

]]> J.R. http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176961 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1176961 Politics Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:11:34 -0800 Comment by Silverstar98121 If anyone wants something to dispute Eyman's contentions that we need more roads to relieve congestion, here's an article from Wired that found that closing roads relieves congestion.
http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/10/study-shows-tha.html

]]> Silverstar98121 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1177229 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/10/hubris#c1177229 Politics Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:34:24 -0800