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I once reported what smelled like a gas leak. I expected someone from the gas company to come over. Instead, a full hose truck, a ladder truck and a smaller pickup arrived. About 15-20 guys. They couldnt smell a(I have a pretty good nose), so they went home. Thats a lot of manpower, diesel, and wear and tear on the vehicles.

Funny thing: I have a friend who is an expert on gas lines. If it WAS a gas leak, the first reaction is to stop the leak, which might require someone to act on the central line. This does not require 15-20 guys.

So, that's fire trucks.
What about police? Do they all need Crown Vics (a big V6 or V8) and Harley's? Montgomery County does fine with smaller cars. Do they need overwhelming force for every interaction with potential criminals? I've seen 6-8 cars for a traffic stop with only two suspects, and the police are mostly hanging out. Why does it require two cars (a technician and a police officer), to check the speed cameras on 16th street?

All this costs a lot of money and energy. Reducing it would save money for the city, preserve our first responders for when they are actually needed, and be "green"

by SJE on Jul 24, 2012 6:35 pm • link • report