BLOG: Wasteful Government Spending Right Here in Perry Hall
Many of us complain about wasteful government spending, but rarely are direct examples of this ever given. A common complaints is, "Where does all the money go?" Whether we're talking about federal or state government, we continually hear, "Let's eliminate the waste, fraud and abuse," as a constant drumbeat.
I am on the lookout for those examples that I am sure we have all seen and said out loud or under our breaths, "Now why are they doing that?" Just maybe our local politicians read the Patch and will take a look at these examples.
Here's my first example. If you have ever driven by the two intersections at the corner of Joppa and Belair Roads, you will notice crosswalks placed there as a result of the Perry Hall Elementary School. How many elementary students walk without their parents from the school?
The streetscape improvements (which did help traffic flow) have resulted in more than 20 new crosswalk signs at these two intersections. That's right, 20-plus crosswalk signs in addition to the crosswalk signals.
Now I believe in safety around school zones just as much as anyone else. But was that really necessary? Or just simply stupid? Seems minor, but thousands of dollars were wasted because of a bureaucrat or two.
Penny S
8:39 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
You seem to have an opinion about everything. If the signage prevents a child from getting killed, is it worth the money?
Paul Amirault
9:39 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
Yes. Regarding your second point is there a limit on how much you will spend? As an absurd example, you could have 24 hour/7 day a week crossing guards at each intersection at every school and save a lot of lives, but no one would probably agree to that.
Ryan
8:57 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
I think you also forget about all of the kids, young and old that use the fields around a school for activities not related to school (you would think that you would because of being part of the Parks and REC Department). Most teenagers don’t have their parents walk them across the street to go play some baseball with friends.
I hate wasteful spending, but this doesn’t seem like a bad thing.
Paul Amirault
9:36 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
Crosswalk signs are useful and bring attention to pedestrians. But to have 12-14 signs at one intersection seems like a lot. Have you seen the signs? Being with the Rec Council for over 30 years also has informed me where the greatest danger exists.
It exists on Ebenezer and Joppa Road next to the ball fields. Kids dart in and out and between cars crossing those two roads. That's where they get hit, crossing the road where there are no crosswalks.
The Mole
9:43 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
Didn't a child get killed by the school on belair rd years ago?
Emily
12:34 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
I agree that 20 sounds like a lot BUT people ignore them! I pick my son up from middle school every day. He attends Parkville Middle School (Magnet School). He has to cross the street to get to my car. More times than I care to think about he has been in danger because very few people stop for the students in the crosswalk and it's right in front of the school!!! The drivers don't even slow down and there are kids all over the place at dismissal time. My son has had to jump back IN THE CROSWALK or be hit! It's truly shameful. If the extra signs save one childs life, they are worth every penny. Until people start obeying the traffic laws and realize that safety is more important than whatever they are late for, this expense may be needed
Tim
3:01 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
It's true Emily. They could have FIFTY signs in a quarter mile radius around the school, and still, 40% of local drivers would all but ignore them.
The selfish/Dbag generation, we live in. Raise your kids to be respectful of others - eventually over a decade or two perhaps we can fix our society.
LalainMaryland
1:18 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
I am astounded by your blog. Seriously, you are picking at something that could save a child's life? I am ashamed of you and your opinion.
Paul Amirault
1:48 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
LalainMaryland, posters on The Patch routinely complain about government spending. You have failed to see the hidden sarcasm in my post. How much are they willing to spend? Sorry you didn't see it, it is there.
PS The most dangerous place on the road is between Joppa and Carlisle as the kids cross the road for games and for going back and forth to elementary and middle school. With Ebenezer a close second. And what are we doing about their safety there?
Marty Warren
3:17 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
Hey Paul,
We agree, ANY "wasted" government money is bad. I'm much more concerned about the wasteful spending in Annapolis, (Millions instead of thousands).
Marty
Jimmy
8:57 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
You want wasteful government spending...how about the brick paver road and sidewalk in front of the old courthouse in Towson? It took over 3 months to install and had traffic tied up in knots the whole time.
Reds
12:00 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The entire Baltimore County and Maryland State government are masterful exercises in wasteful spending.
donna welch
12:41 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
They could save money by cutting down those trees that are in the power lines instead of trimming them.
Tim
3:03 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
the last thing this world needs is less trees.
Other Tim
7:45 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Have you seen the new handicap ramps that are being installed at intersections, especially around the White Marsh Mall area? Always have been ramps there, but for some reason they were not good enough, so they had to be re-done with a different design. Total waste of money!
Joe
1:02 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Delete .Joe
1:00 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Have you ever heard of the American Disabilities Act? Those sidewalks and intersections were terrible for anyone wheelchair bound. Yes, the sidewalk in front of the elementary school is usually not used by the students of that school. Perry Hall residents that are disabled as well as the joggers, walkers and bicyclist have benefitted more from the safety improvements to the sidewalks and the intersections.
Paul Amirault
5:21 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
I as someone who believes that equal access makes perfect sense in almost all cases, it is crazy to go back in time and fix everything done wrong previously. How many people in wheelchairs have you ever seen crossing major intersections like Honeygo & Rte 43, or Honeygo and Belair Rd, or Joppa and Belair Rd? I have lived here 30 years and never seen one. The ADA although well intentioned has major flaws.
Marty Warren
5:26 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Hey Paul,
I agree with you. Many laws are well intentioned then don't do what we thought they would do. They should be changed or repealed but they rarely are. The ADA KILLS small business's. A good example is making manufacturing plants "Disabled Compliant". Pepsi and Coke had NO problem making their buildings compliant, all they had to do was raise their soda's a penny a can. Shasta and other small business's, Not so much.
Joe
1:07 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
I agree with you about the most dangerous part of Joppa Rd. It would be nice if the county could widen that section of roadway and add speed humps, like the ones on Kilbride and Carlisle. I drive by slowly during the events at the schools hoping someone does not walk out between the parked cars.
James Smith
1:17 pm on Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The best way to prevent wasteful spending is to put the checkbook online for all eyes to see.