Speed Camera Support: Grassroots or Astroturf?
Corporation that stands to benefit from more cameras aids a Facebook group advocating expansion of the network of devices in school zones.
Photos
Sarah Dennis started the Facebook group "Slow Down for Baltimore County Schools" in January because she and her friends support more speed cameras in school zones.
"I just figured I'd put it up on the web," said Dennis, a Rodgers Forge mother of two and a special education teacher for Baltimore County Public Schools.
The group quickly attracted 357 “likes” from people who support a County Council bill that, if approved Monday, will authorize an unlimited expansion of the county’s current network of 15 speed cameras.
But the grassroots effort to win council support has a powerful friend not found on its Facebook page: ACS State and Local Solutions, the company that holds the county’s speed camera contract and stands to financially benefit from the pending legislation.
Kearney O’Doherty (KO) Public Affairs, the politically connected strategy firm hired by ACS, has helped Slow Down for Baltimore County Schools communicate with County Council members and expand its base of support by establishing a separate website that sends e-mails to the elected officials and drives more “likes” to the Facebook page.
Damian O’Doherty, a KO Public Affairs partner and former county government official, told Patch in December that his political strategy firm has been working with ACS and a coalition of “educators, parents and elected officials to bring (speed cameras) to Maryland.”
When asked by text message last week about the firm’s support specifically for the group Slow Down For Baltimore County Schools, O’Doherty wrote:
"Let me be clear: KO Public Affairs is very supportive and ACS also applauds these parents. Speed cameras are very popular here in Maryland."
The firm did not respond to several additional requests for details about its efforts to support Slow Down For Baltimore County Schools.
Dennis told Patch that her neighbor, Howard Libit, set up her Facebook site’s accompanying website, slowdownbaltimorecounty.com.
Libit is chief operating officer for Kearney O’Doherty Public Affairs.
A search to find the owner of the slowdownbaltimorecounty.com website turned up an anonymous registration. The site was established on Jan. 5, one day after Dennis’ Facebook page started.
The website features two elements: Visitors can either click the “like” link or they can enter their name and e-mail address and click a button that sends a letter to the council’s seven members asking for their support of cameras.
Libit is one of the 357 people who “like” Dennis’ Slow Down For Baltimore County Schools Facebook page. His Facebook profile clearly states his position with KO Public Affairs.
But there is no further indication on the group's Facebook page or the accompanying website of ACS’s or KO Public Affairs’ involvement with the grassroots group.
Unlike with disclosure rules for lobbying groups, nothing prohibits political strategy firms from working behind the scenes to align the interests of grassroots groups with those of their corporate clients.
But political observers say public awareness of such activity is important so that elected officials and citizens know when a company with a financial interest in pending legislation is backing a grassroots group with a public interest in the bill.
“It’s information people should know,” said Paul Herrnson, director of the University of Maryland’s Center for American Politics and Citizenship and a professor of government and politics. “It’s not unusual for a company to try to get its way.”
Companies commonly hire strategy firms like KO Public Affairs to rally “people who are affected by the legislation” as part of a public issue campaign, he said.
Dennis said she knew Libit “worked for a public relations company" but was not aware that his firm represented ACS. Libit, she said, offered to set up the website for her after talking to her about her interest in the issue.
Dennis also said she gave Libit access to the e-mail account she set up for the Facebook page. She said she gave Libit access to the account in January and asked him "to help get the word out."
Dennis told Patch that she most recently sent e-mails from the account after the council’s work session last week.
She said she did not, however, write a Jan. 21 e-mail that one speed camera opponent said he was surprised to receive.
Kevin Dunne, a resident of West Towson and an attorney, told Patch he received a Jan. 21 e-mail message from slowdownbaltimore@gmail.com seeking his support for speed cameras.
"Some County Council members are unsure about passing this measure, so we need to let the Council know that we support Councilman (Tom) Quirk's proposal and safe schools," reads the e-mail Dunne was sent. "Fifteen speed cameras are not enough to protect children at the county's 170+ schools."
The e-mail then encourages Dunne and other recipients to either use a pre-written e-mail of support or visit slowdownbaltimorecounty.com to click its “send this message” button that delivers the e-mail to council members.
Dunne said he was surprised to receive such an e-mail because he personally opposes speed cameras and never signed up to receive the group's alerts. Dunne said he believes someone could have collected his e-mail address from a community directory put together by the West Towson Neighborhood Association.
Dennis said she was never given an e-mail distribution list to use and could not say if Kearney O'Doherty Public Affairs had developed one for use with her e-mail address. When asked if KO Public Affairs had sent the e-mail that Dunne received, Dennis said, “You'll have to ask them."
The firm did not respond to requests for comment.
Kearney O’Doherty Public Affairs is a political strategies firm started in 2008 by two former top advisers to state and county Democratic leaders. Steve Kearney was Gov. Martin O’Malley’s communications director and O’Doherty was a top aide to former County Executive Jim Smith until 2006.
The council approved the speed camera legislation in 2009 when Smith was county executive.
KO Public Affairs specializes in “designing and implementing successful strategies to achieve even the most complex, difficult objectives” for its clients, according to the firm's website.
ACS could benefit from the bill to expand cameras sponsored by Quirk, a Catonsville Democrat, and three other council members. A council majority is expected to approve the bill at its Monday session. Only two council members have expressed opposition.
In less than a year, ACS has been paid nearly $1 million of the total $1.1 million in fines collected by the county — about 81 cents of every dollar. Last week, ACS had its contract extended for a year.
With the public's support and the new legislation, the county will be authorized to install unlimited and mobile speed cameras. A poll commissioned by KO Public Affairs, and first reported by Patch, showed in December that some 75 percent of Marylanders support speed cameras, buttressing the firm's efforts to support the devices throughout the state.
Political observers said it is common for corporations to back grassroots groups that support changes in legislation that could improve business.
In Maryland, groups like the Maryland Jockey Club and Penn National have financed anti-slots community groups — not because the companies were against expanded gaming, but because they wanted to influence where the machines were placed, said Matthew Crenson, chairman emeritus of Johns Hopkins University’s political science department.
The practice of companies helping grassroots groups "is so common they have a name for it — 'Astroturf democracy'"—as opposed to “grassroots,” said Crenson, who did not comment specifically on Kearney O'Doherty Public Affairs’ involvement in the speed camera issue.
"For every public group there is a private or corporate organization that has an interest in their efforts," Crenson said. "In a way, it's good. Small public groups get access to consulting and support services they might not otherwise have. They're getting access to the political system that they wouldn't have had otherwise."
Regional Editor Doug Donovan contributed to this story.
Stephen
8:03 am on Monday, February 7, 2011
If they really think the public "supports" speed scameras, THAN LET THE PUBLIC VOTE!
Somehow I don't think ACS wants that, do you????
FIGHT THE SCAM!
BAN THE CAMS!
www.motorists.org
www.banthecams.org
www.camerafraud.com
www.bhspi.com
also see: www.bancams.com
and http://stopbigbrothermd.org
JK
12:52 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Stephen: Thank you for the added links! I was thinking about the referendum idea myself. If people like us could educate only a fraction of the Do-Gooders (DGs)*, it would be wonderful. I know that there are reckless idiots on the road out there who should be ticketed, but to lump actual good drivers into that category? Don't the DGs realize that the Scam Cams (SCs) are actually the Government & the SC Companies "Playing the Numbers"? What I mean is, having been an information collector myself, I know that if one looks long and hard enough, enough information can be found on anybody to make a case out of anything. Remember "Speed Minimums"? I don't recall having seen that lately...maybe I missed that and someone can tell us where one (some) exist(s)? Why do you think that that existed (exists)? Because Common Sense SHOULD exist in everything, and maybe some of the DGs should be ticketed for impeding the flow of traffic which also causes accidents! COMMON SENSE and (to reiterate) not to condone true speeding and/or reckless driving! With that in mind, NOBODY should be on the road, because something, somewhere can be found on anybody, including the DGs! In closing, I'll say that many who have "oversimplified" (eg: "Simply don't speed."), have wound up getting SCed!!!
* Do-Gooders: those who mean well, but, for the most part, don't have their facts and/or the whole story together, and/or are gullible to misleading/incorrect propaganda. DGs are enablers of (SC, etc) "Kingpins".
Stan Modjesky
8:28 am on Monday, February 7, 2011
Don't we already have "resource officers" at most of the schools?
My God, with a cop in every school, surveillance cameras, speed cameras, lockdown procedures in place ready to be implemented, are these schools or little prisons?
RG
8:43 am on Monday, February 7, 2011
Surprise, surprise. Thanks for your research, Brian.
wwjd
9:00 am on Monday, February 7, 2011
There are "resource officers" in most of the schools, but they're in the school buildings, not out on the roads enforcing the speed limit. Speed cams will keep honest people honest. As for the rest of the population of motorists that insist on speeding, especially in school zones, then shame on them. What a bunch of self-centered, rude individuals behind the wheel. They're the reason we need the speed cameras.
Flipkid
9:46 am on Monday, February 7, 2011
Bingo. Well put.
Ethan
9:41 am on Monday, February 7, 2011
If the council was interested in slowing down speeding in school zones, why not put in speed bumps, 'ribbed' pavement, or any other number of time-tested and proven traffic-engineering solutions?
As each day goes by, it becomes more and more clear that this is all about money and special interests, NOT anybody's safety. Ask your councilman why they support cameras and not legitimate traffic engineering solutions like speed bumps!
wwjd
10:08 am on Monday, February 7, 2011
Speed bumps only work on the small side streets where the posted speed limit is 25 mph to begin with. You'll have to look at each school zone on a case-by-case basis. Let me use Putty Hill Avenue in front of Parkville High School as an example. The posted speed limit is 30 mph. Would you install speed bumps to enforce the 30 mph speed limit? Why do drivers need speed bumps and other physical deterrents to drive the speed limit? What ever happened to self-control and courtesy, and driving the speed limit because it's the right thing to do? Our society needs more than speed cameras. We need lessons in civility. In the mean time, the cameras and monetary fines for this rudeness will have to be part of the solution.
Flipkid
10:57 am on Monday, February 7, 2011
"Why do drivers need speed bumps and other physical deterrents to drive the speed limit? What ever happened to self-control and courtesy, and driving the speed limit because it's the right thing to do? Our society needs more than speed cameras. We need lessons in civility. In the mean time, the cameras and monetary fines for this rudeness will have to be part of the solution."
Hear, hear!! Another voice of reason!
Ethan
12:59 pm on Monday, February 7, 2011
Yes, why on earth not? Speed "humps" - basically much milder speed bumps - are all over Catonsville already for example, and work just fine in zones around 25-30mph. For faster roads, 'ribbed' pavement has been implemented widely throughout the country, and seems to be reasonably effective.
I don't understand your argument that drivers shouldn't need deterrents just to drive properly - and you may have a point - but shouldn't that same argument apply to the cameras? Your post is dripping with narcissistic elitism, but makes no coherent argument whatsoever. You insist that we need to control drivers with speeds cameras and "more", but reject the one proven method of influencing drivers to slow down.
Rather than designing roads that are safer - which you bizarrely reject with no reason given - you'd much prefer to use the rule of law to control people and punish them. This is an issue of traffic engineering, not law enforcement. But, those that argue for the latter certainly do show their true colors when they enter the debate.
Robbin Brenk
7:49 am on Thursday, September 15, 2011
Drivers have no self control or courtesy once they get behind the wheel. Their motto is: get there as fast as you can forget who's in the way. Driving is a priviledge and if we had enough cops to enforce the speed limit we wouldn't need camera's. So cudo's to speed bumps and speed camera's.
Paula Bahler Huber
11:07 am on Monday, February 7, 2011
Please show us the proof that speed cameras improve safety. The council and police have not been able to show any correlation, and have actually backed away from their initial safety claims that they used to get the first 15 installed. We have seen proof that revenue from the speed cameras is down by 51%. Obviously, this $$ must be made up.
Mike Pappas
11:24 am on Monday, February 7, 2011
The Baltimore County Police Department's own study indicated that the school zones had no more and no less accidents when they cameras were present than before they were installed. They concluded that the cameras did not improve safety near the schools at all. They did conclude that the cameras caused folks to slow down, but only when folks thought the cameras were working...i.e. people still sped when they thought the cameras were off during holidays etc.
The Police like the idea of the cameras because they are supposed to generate revenue for public safety funding. Tom Quirk likes them because the bulk of his financial support came from Jim Smith's corrupt political machine which used to directly employ these lobbyists.
This is simple. The cameras do not make the schools any safer. It appears that all these people organizing the fake support for this cause are connected to the Speed Camera Company either as direct agents or indirectly through their astro-turf funding. As for the KO poll- they only asked 816 people, but they appear to believe that they had a representative sample.
I have not met more than five people that support speed cameras anywhere in the three years that I have been speaking to folks about this issue. I wonder what the response would be to "Do you want speed cameras in your neighborhood?" That is a more valid question in my book.
I support safe schools with live police traffic enforcement--it is the only proven way!
Tim
2:27 pm on Tuesday, February 8, 2011
As long as the vast majority of generated revenue is going to local government, I support speed cameras - and YES I would want them in my neighborhood. Bring'em on. People speed way, way too much on Seven Courts as it is. Speed limit is 30, but the first half mile of it may as well be 50.
Robert Armstrong
11:56 am on Monday, February 7, 2011
Cameras or no cameras. It sounds like the writer just has a hard on for KO
wwjd
1:16 pm on Monday, February 7, 2011
On the contrary, our communities need all the help we can get to enforce the speed limit and get drivers to understand that safe driving is a civic duty. Speed cameras, speed traps with real live police officers, speed bumps, ribbed pavement, you name it, I'm all for it. Then we can move on to crack down on the selfish, ignorant individuals who drive with one hand on the steering wheel because they need their other hand to hold their cell phone up to their ear. And yes, even with the handheld cell phone ban, drivers are still texting, even on the beltway. How stupid is that?
Stranger
1:43 pm on Monday, February 7, 2011
Notwithstanding the fact that I've had a photo clicked on me a few times over the past year, I don't really have a problem with the cameras. What I do have a major problem with is ACS -- or any company -- collecting $.81 on every buck in fines. Municipalities should buy and put into place these cameras, and subsequently pump the fine proceeds back into the community. Is anybody else disgusted about this?
Tim
2:23 pm on Tuesday, February 8, 2011
I overlooked this earlier today. Yeah, I am disgusted alright. I want to (and expected to) see a lot more of this money go to the communities themselves.
William Lutostanski Jr
5:40 pm on Monday, February 7, 2011
If you support cameras then you are saying it is ok to travel 42 mph in 30mph zone. I support efforts that actually reduce the speed of drivers near schools, not ones that allow you to travel 12 mph over the posted speed limit. The contract for the speed cameras was also renewed without going to bid. Why is that?
Public Citizen
1:21 pm on Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Totally against this revenue generated tactic. Recent articles have stated that these cameras are actually costing the county citizens. WHY is that chief Johnson? Stand up and explain this to us. You sit in the crystal palace and allow yourself to be one of the county executives puppets. Chief Johnson you are one of the original head planners for this idea. I wonder from what county do you reside? How much money is being driven to your pocket chief Johnson? Better yet how much money is being driven into your pocket County executive Kamenetz? How about you Fred Hohman? How much are you getting from the deal. The only thing the citizens are getting is the raw end of the stick.
I often wonder why the didn't start by using dummy marked police cars parked at different times at different locations to slow down motorist. Instead the county and the brilliant leaders including those on the council went straight for the wallets of those that they represent. I can't wait to move form this county.
Jim
6:50 am on Thursday, February 10, 2011
Aside from $$$, here's 2 reasons politicians OK the cameras:
1. They think we like the cameras!
Besides the emails to politicians, there is another prong to Astroturf Lobbying by the camera Industry. Their PR firms post comments on news articles like this one. (Google Rynski and Astroturf.) The politicians read the web, assume the pro-cam comments represent genuine public support, so they vote to install cameras.
2. Politicians - and their extended family - are immune to the tickets.
In California 1.5 million privately-owned cars have plates protected from easy look up, effectively invisible to agencies trying to process camera violations. The "protected" list includes politicians, bureaucrats, their families, and ADULT children! Unbelievable? Read Cal Veh Code 1808.4. A reporter should check to see how many are protected in Maryland.
JK
11:13 am on Thursday, February 10, 2011
First, I do agree there are SOME speeders and reckless drivers, and SOME reckless speeders, but as many as the ScamCam Program (SCP) claims? Definitely NOT! I have spoken with some of the best, mellowest, law-abiding, safe, experienced drivers (to include some having taken defensive driving courses). I remember one, who "didn't even know he did anything wrong and still got a citation". That's right, Do-Gooders (DGs: those who defend the SCP), he, like many others, didn't "choose to speed" or "simply" "not do the speed limit". He (like many others), to the best of his knowledge, was doing everything right. If the DGs get themselves educated*, not believe the first propaganda that they hear and/or maybe even "simply" open their eyes, they may sing a different tune. Remember, DGs, I'd bet that many of the people caring enough to write in to criticize the SCP, have "Been there; Done that" and are not simply complainers. I.E.: Some who have spoken FOR the SCP and have done what the DGs have said, still have gotten zapped. It's in the numbers: some now pro-SCP (enablers of the SCP and who knows what other bad stuff) will get zapped. I wonder how many pro-SCP DGs are hypocrites caring more for their precious "perfect record" opposed to true safety and traffic flow, and how many are just gullible (esp. to propaganda). DGs, keep your eyes on the ROAD: YOU might become one of the increased # of accidents due to SCs!
* A good place to START is the "StopBigBrother" web site.
Kim Ruark
3:19 pm on Tuesday, October 11, 2011
I have seen many police with scanners on Silver Spring Road over the past few years. I chuckled even, when I saw others getting stopped. But there is something so inviting about that stretch of road between Belair Road and Perry Hall Blvd.!! The warning I received when _I_ got pulled over has been the most effective deterrent, despite the aggressive drivers behind me flashing their lights to get me to exceed the speed limit when I'm puttering along at 35 mph.
galen wallace
1:06 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
ANYTHING that even remotely slows down the plethora of speeders is welcome. Should the County negotiate a better deal with the camera people? Yes they should! But the bottom line is that it's a revenue source generated by scofflaws and no cost to the taxpayers. Drive the speed limit (or even within 10 MPH of the limit) and you won't have to contribute. And, if NOBODY was speeding the revenue stream to the camera people would ZERO, they would pack up and leave and this issue would solve itself. How hard is that?
Paul Amirault
2:08 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Why don't we just put speed monitoring devices on every car that would automatically report your speed and issue you a ticket? With GPS this could easily be done. How about a device in the car that reports to the police that your seat belt is unbuckled? How about a camera that detects you jaywalking? A machine that detects you parking space time has expired and issue you a ticket. A machine that automatically detects your failure to come to a complete stop at a stop sign and issues you a ticket would be fantastic. How much freedom are you willing to give up in the name of safety?
Plate Hood
11:41 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
The Photo Enforcement program has never been about safety. How can blinding and distracting drivers with a searing flash improve anyones "safety".
The entire Photo Enforcement program is nothing short of a money grab and nothing else. I protect my privacy and hard earned dollars from photo enforcement with the PlateHood. http://www.platehood.com
Bhomas Trown
8:57 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
When do we, the citizens of Maryland, get to V-O-T-E on this issue? Or do we just let the shadoawy workings of corporation + government co-operatives decide these things for us on a daily basis?
Bhomas Trown
9:03 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
PS, why did I get a speeding camera ticket in a school zone at 7:30 PM? I was only going 40 in a 25mph zone. There were no students around for me to run over. Anyways, this is predatory behavior on the part of the corporate-govt cooperatives and not a real industry, even if it does generate millions of dollars for these shadow puppets, just like towing and ticketing and a $60 fine for having my 40 square foot backyard grass slightly over the legal limit. Of course, I'm in Baltimore City, but this type of behavior is predatory by governments where-ever it takes place. I am anti-speed camera, anti-red light camera. They are our employees; we pay their salaries with our tax dollars, so why are they empowered to take yet more money from us?