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Can the libs outlobby the cops?
By adamg on Thu, 04/03/2008 - 9:06am
Charley on the MTA tries to whip up some legislator phone-calling to counter efforts by police unions to save roadwork police details.
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Comments
I hope so!
MA is the only state that requires the use of police to direct traffic.
We ain't that different!
In fact, I find that flaggers do a better job because they are trained and use signs - none of this obscure telepathic kabuki crap.
How would we benefit?
I've heard the detail issue discussed to death on talk radio, I've heard the Governor himself get on the bandwagon and I'm still not convinced. The police always get portrayed as Chief Wiggum types, getting paid to eat donuts and watch somebody patch a pothole. So if we replace all the cops with flagmen how do we benefit? Do you seriously think there will be a big rate reduction from Nstar or we'll magically have the tax dollars to fix every bridge? The public will not get one cent back and the cops will find it harder to send their kids to college. Who wins? The big utility and construction interests who have to pay for the details, we'd trade away extra police on our streets so Keyspan can enjoy higher profits? No thanks, I'd rather have a cop on the street who can arrest and intimidate Masshole drivers who probably wouldn't even respect a flagman anyways.
anti-competitive labor market
Details are often paid at high hourly rate by construction companies and for-profit utilities, rates akin to double for overtime.
It's how a policemen with annual job income of $60,000 can increase it to $100,000 and more. I'm not against people making money. Similarly, I'm for people who are paying the bill to get a good value:for the rates to be set in a fair market.
Policemen at all construction sites as a matter of law creates an anti-competitive market because a policemen's unique skills are not the same unique skills required to do the job.
Clearly, private construction companies and for-profit utilities have a responsibility to mitigate risk of accidents when they do their jobs in a thoroughfare. But why do we think policemen, working as a second job, and getting paid overtime rates, is the right way, make that only way, to address the need?
It's clear taxpayers and utility rate payers get poor value for the tax dollars and utility bills when expensive policemen are required by law to be in attendance at all Massachusetts work sites.