The increase in traffic deaths accross America, over the last ten years, coincides with the anti-law enforcement movement.
In 2021, 42,939 Americans died in car crashes, the highest toll in a decade and a half. Of those deaths, a sizable portion involved intoxicated or unrestrained drivers or vehicles traveling well in excess of local speed limits"
Elections have consequences If you live in Washington state, you voted for a Target 25, not Target Zero. And if in the City of Camas, WA you voted for an UnSafe Camas, instead of Camas Safe.
What will it be the next election cycle?
In 2019, California reported a motor vehicle fatality rate of 5.3 deaths per 100,000 people, slightly higher than the national average of 4.4. Injury collisions reported in California increased by an estimated 16% from 2018 to 2019 alone.
In Oregon, from 2013 to 2021, the number of traffic fatalities increased dramatically and has remained high.From 2013 to 2023 Oregon's number of traffic fatalities increased 88 percent and its fatality rate increased 70 percent.
I then get a call from the greenest member of the city's engineering department who assures me there's nothing wrong with the roads or traffic signage around the Woodburn Elementary School community and cites a 'recent inspection around the community' but fails to describe what the inspection found, what was corrected and what remains to be done. He acknowledges the crash data around the area and that four of the last six are DUI-related but says "there's nothing we can do about it."
Another attempt at reaching City Hall produces a call back from Steve Wall - he was not aware of Washington state's Target Zero, Portland's Vision Zero or the concept of new product Introduction: in other words, he can't relate to the issues I have raised.
Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all, whereas Washington state’s Target Zero patterned after Vision Zero, is a plan with the goal to reduce the number of traffic deaths and serious injuries on Washington’s roadways to zero by the year 2030 - a goal that will be sorely missed.
I next get a call back from an exasperated Doug Quinn who wants to know in seconds what the engineering manager has been unable to understand. Due to time constraints, we mutually agree to meet im person, July 18th. His office confirms the meeting for 9:00 am. Prior to the meeting, I email an proposed agenda, including recommendations;
Doug shows up at 8:00 am. I show up at 9:00 as confirmed by his office. - the meeting never took place.
I followed up with Doug, July 29 to see if he has any questions: his response? "I have not seen anything new but have read your original email. Have you sent another note in regarding your concerns?"
Haven't heard from the city since.
Not unexpected but predictable. We predicted as much three years ago:
2021 Camas City Council Voters Guide
Once informed, failure to act makes city officials liable for depraved indifference.
A Comedy?
A Comedy of errors?
Arrogant Incompetence?
In an age of artificial intelligence, we are surrounded by bureaucratic Arrogant Incompetence - AI
What will it be the next election cycle?
In 2019, California reported a motor vehicle fatality rate of 5.3 deaths per 100,000 people, slightly higher than the national average of 4.4. Injury collisions reported in California increased by an estimated 16% from 2018 to 2019 alone.
In Oregon, from 2013 to 2021, the number of traffic fatalities increased dramatically and has remained high.From 2013 to 2023 Oregon's number of traffic fatalities increased 88 percent and its fatality rate increased 70 percent.
Camas, WA
The City of Camas, unlike the City of Vancouver, it's next door neighbor has decided to follow Washington state's lead in the Inequity of the pursuit of equity over public safety. Instead of CamasSafe, it has chosen UnSafe Camas.If it was not a serious matter, it would be comical: a simple parking jurisdictional question, turned into public safety issue and uncovering government waste:
My homeowners association decided to indiscriminately enforce public street 'no parking' regulations. A cursory look around the neighborhood showed a total disregard for public safety, including shoddy workmanship, bureaucratic red tape and widespread incompetence. While the dog catcher is often seen around the neighborhood, Camas PD is not.
I contacted Police Chief Tina Jones, who confirmed the HOA's no parking enforcement was a civil issue and because of lack of resources, no law enforcement patrol around the Woodburn Elementary School community was possible.
The next stop was the City's Code Enforcement. Officer Kraig Ainspach was gracious enough to confirm traffic sign obstruction and shoddy workmanship, which he said would be sent to the engineering department. Ainspach also incorrectly identified an overflow parking space as city-owned property.
Then it gets interesting: I tried to reach the City's Engineering Manager Steve Wall via email - he quickly blocked me. So, I figured I'd try the mayor's office: Steve Hogan & City Administrator Doug Quinn.
My homeowners association decided to indiscriminately enforce public street 'no parking' regulations. A cursory look around the neighborhood showed a total disregard for public safety, including shoddy workmanship, bureaucratic red tape and widespread incompetence. While the dog catcher is often seen around the neighborhood, Camas PD is not.
I contacted Police Chief Tina Jones, who confirmed the HOA's no parking enforcement was a civil issue and because of lack of resources, no law enforcement patrol around the Woodburn Elementary School community was possible.
The next stop was the City's Code Enforcement. Officer Kraig Ainspach was gracious enough to confirm traffic sign obstruction and shoddy workmanship, which he said would be sent to the engineering department. Ainspach also incorrectly identified an overflow parking space as city-owned property.
Then it gets interesting: I tried to reach the City's Engineering Manager Steve Wall via email - he quickly blocked me. So, I figured I'd try the mayor's office: Steve Hogan & City Administrator Doug Quinn.
I then get a call from the greenest member of the city's engineering department who assures me there's nothing wrong with the roads or traffic signage around the Woodburn Elementary School community and cites a 'recent inspection around the community' but fails to describe what the inspection found, what was corrected and what remains to be done. He acknowledges the crash data around the area and that four of the last six are DUI-related but says "there's nothing we can do about it."
Another attempt at reaching City Hall produces a call back from Steve Wall - he was not aware of Washington state's Target Zero, Portland's Vision Zero or the concept of new product Introduction: in other words, he can't relate to the issues I have raised.
Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all, whereas Washington state’s Target Zero patterned after Vision Zero, is a plan with the goal to reduce the number of traffic deaths and serious injuries on Washington’s roadways to zero by the year 2030 - a goal that will be sorely missed.
I next get a call back from an exasperated Doug Quinn who wants to know in seconds what the engineering manager has been unable to understand. Due to time constraints, we mutually agree to meet im person, July 18th. His office confirms the meeting for 9:00 am. Prior to the meeting, I email an proposed agenda, including recommendations;
Recomnendations
To: Doug Quinn; Carrie Davis
Mon 7/29/2024 9:02 AM
Subject: Meeting Agenda Backgrounder
I followed up with Doug, July 29 to see if he has any questions: his response? "I have not seen anything new but have read your original email. Have you sent another note in regarding your concerns?"
 |
| Camas 24/7 a complete waste: issues are 'closed' when nothing is done: no explanation offered. |
City of Camas Has No Comment
Not unexpected but predictable. We predicted as much three years ago:
2021 Camas City Council Voters Guide
Once informed, failure to act makes city officials liable for depraved indifference.
Conclusions?
Normalize Increase in traffic deaths like normalized high crime rate?
A Comedy of errors?
Arrogant Incompetence?
The injustice of the pursuit of equity over public safety?
In an age of artificial intelligence, we are surrounded by bureaucratic Arrogant Incompetence - AI
What is clear, is that the City of Camas has the opportunity to lead, and it squandered it.
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