Is PRT also an Environmental Regulation-Busting Tool?

The invasion of Ithaca, New York by PRT pod people continues (scroll down)... but this post is about the ongoing invasion by pod people in Alameda, CA.

I've documented how PRT has been used by anti-transit, road warriors like Rep. Mark Olson to block and delay funding for conventional transit, particularly commuter and light rail transit. Now, PRT is being used to bamboozle citizens in Alameda into scrapping Measure A, a ballot initiative aimed to regulate development.

Marc Albert in the Alameda Sun:

SunCal is scheduled to present more fleshed-out plans to city officials Sept. 19. The public, invited to weigh the merits of two potential scenarios, one with 4,000 units, the other with 6,000, continue to be alternately wowed by futuristic amenities including proposals for a solar power plant and monorail, yet dismissive of both options for running afoul of the city's anti-growth statute, Measure A.

The 1972 ballot initiative regulates lot size and forbids construction of housing units that would accommodate more than two families. The developer has put forward two potential options, both of which would require a ballot initiative, likely in 2009, that would waive Measure A at least at Alameda Point.

Instead of offering a real solution to the transportation needs of the people who move into those additional 2,000 units, Suncal offers an imaginary, snake-oil solution - PRT... CLEVER!!!

Suncal made it's case to the Alameda City Council on September 10th:

Traffic jams and empty storefronts were two of the main concerns of the City Council and the community at Wednesday's special meeting focused primarily on developer SunCal's latest concept for the former Navy base.

SunCal's 6,200-plus residential unit proposal included self-described "visionary" features: a possible "solar farm" to generate energy and heat; a Bus Rapid Transit system to encourage public transit use and ease traffic; and a Jetson-like Personal Rapid Transit system, which would shuttle people in small computerized electrical vehicles on an elevated roadway to transit hubs.

When pressed by Councilmember Doug DeHaan, the SunCal consultant conceded that the overhead roadway with the computerized vehicles may not be viable, but should it work out, it would be extended throughout the island. Developers in years past had extolled the virtues of a ski-lift-like gondola that would transport people back and forth across the estuary, and another proposal called for a BART system to do the same task underwater. Neither idea made it past the dream stage.

But, the fate of Suncal's project at Alameda Point may be already sealed by the collapse of Lehman Brothers:

Lehman invested heavily over the last few years in California's real-estate market through its financing of Irvine-based SunCal Companies.

The firm wrote down its investment in SunCal from $2.2 billion to $1.6 billion earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal reported.

UPDATE: Suncal denies they are in trouble.

Here's Suncal's presentation at the Alameda City Council September 10th:

Debbie Cook Does Not Appear at the Ithaca Podcar Conference

Looks like Congressional candidate Debbie Cook will not appear at the Podcar Conference as the Podcar website claimed.

The current program says the following:

Video Message from Debbie Cook, Mayor of Huntington Beach and candidate for US Congress (D)

Why the "(D)" after her name It should not matter to a supposedly non-political group what party she belongs to. But matter it does since the Pod people are sweating that Republicans will be out of power in January and it is the anti-transit, right-wing fringe that Rep. Mark Olson comes from that supported PRT in Minnesota.

But, Gus Ayer was there... Gus from last year's Podcar conference:

The Ithaca Podcar Conference

Mark Olson's pals, the PRT Pod People are having a conference in Ithaca, NY this week. Get ready for more PRT hype like the Catherine Burke commentary in the LA Times and the Star Tribune sparking yet another Treehugger blog post about the pods and in the LA Times Bottleneck blog.

If last year's conference is any guide, the Pod People will be dissing traditional transit as much as talking about their non-existent cyberspace fantasy. Here's a video showing two of last years' Podcar Conference speakers bashing conventional transit... Ron Swenson described LRT as "parasitic".

Someone should ask Olson's old friend and legislative colleague Congresswoman Michele Bachmann whether she still supports the pods like she did in 2004.

Here are some questions I put on the Cornell Sun story's comments:

Who are the "generous sponsors" funding this Podcar Conference?

Why are traditional transit organizations not participating?

Why is a conference about the future of Ithaca's public transportation infrastructure charging citizens $90 and students $60 to attend?

Why did the Podcar Conference pick Jake Robert who has little or no expertise in transportation to host this conference? According to a recent Ithaca Journal article, Jake did a heckuva job running the Ithaca Festival (into the red).

Incidentally, Jake's Connect Ithaca website been down for days:

For laughs, watch this old KARE 11 report on PRT featuring Rep. Mark Olson....

They cut out the part where Olson declares PRT "the Microsoft of public transit"... watch it here.

Here's Olson wasting legislators time with one his failed PRT amendments:

Rep. Mark Olson Says "There is Corruption"... Where?

Jennifer Edwards reports in the West Sherburne Tribune:

Olson says he is planning a write-in campaign in November and indicated he felt some votes were missing, uncounted from Orrock and Zimmerman.

"I'm filing the paperwork as we speak," he said Thursday. "People are very upset about how awful, how malicious their campaigning practices were. The only way to get it all out there is a continued campaign."

Olson blamed legislative leaders in St. Paul for contributing to his defeat, saying they cut him off at the knees with illegal campaign brochures.

"There is something wrong with this picture. Candidates who are brought and sold never represent the people. They represent the people who brought them," he said. "There is a cause here. there is corruption involved. Money and power are driving this. I have stood up against the influence of money more than anybody down there, Now I am paying the price."

Corruption? Really!?! I hope Olson contacts the FBI.

Public corruption is a serious problem according to the FBI:

Public corruption is one of the FBI’s top investigative priorities—behind only terrorism, espionage, and cyber crimes. Why? Because of its impact on our democracy and national security. Public corruption can affect everything from how well our borders are secured and our neighborhoods protected…to verdicts handed down in courts…to the quality of our roads and schools. And it takes a significant toll on our pocketbooks, too, siphoning off tax dollars.

Olson's PRT pod buddy Dean Zimmermann was investigated, tried and convicted of public corruption.

Speaking of PRT, there was a PRT-promoting commentary in the Star Tribune on Saturday. I left a comment about Olson and Zimmerman promoting the pods and it was removed. Here is the screenshot of the comment they removed:



I left a another comment that is still up:

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann Supported PRT

In 2004, Rep. Michele Bachmann co-sponsored legislation for PRT and promoted PRT with Rep. Mark Olson and former Minneapolis councilman Dean Zimmermann.... Does Rep. Michele Bachmann still support spending millions of taxpayers' dollars on PRT research?

While we are still on the subject of pods, check out hilarious blog post by Lyle Zapato about the podcar commentary (originally in the LA Times):

Benefits that monorail podcars have over traditional monorail trains are that when one bursts into flames, only four people will be roasted alive, and you won't be able to fit a frightened elephant inside one. Also, when they stall (and they will), you can get out and push.

Podcars are a poor mimicry of the superior Inteli-Tube pneumatic transportation system* and were designed to confuse the car-obsessed public into building more dangerous monorails.

Podcar Conference Marketing & Sponsorship Director Fired from his Other Job

Ithaca Journal:

ITHACA — The Ithaca Festival faces a major deficit and a search for a director following this past June's event that saw an expansion of attractions and performers at two locations in the city.

“The festival is in debt, and the festival director was terminated, and the festival board is determined that the festival continue in 2009 and beyond. We expect to continue the mission of the festival to bring out the artist in everyone,” said Ed Marion, the president of the festival's board of directors.

According to the 2008 Executive Director Jacob Roberts, who was fired by the festival's board on July 11, the budget was approximately $300,000 and the deficit as of June was well into the six figures.

Scott Hamilton, who managed expenses for the 2008 Festival, said that the deficit handed to the board following the festival was $150,000.

Jake Robert's bio in a Podcar Conference newsletter (PDF):

Jacob Alan Roberts

By Christer Lindstrom

PODCAR CITY: ITHACA is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Jacob Alan Roberts as its Marketing & Sponsorship Director. Over the past decade, Mr. Roberts has been a tireless leader in catalyzing and inspiring the creative sectors of Syracuse and Ithaca, NY. His extensive body of work as an executive, civil servant and community volunteer has yielded transformative action in social, cultural and economic spheres that continue to bring about sensible and innovative solutions to the greater region.

Since graduating from Syracuse University with a degree in Fine Art in 1996, Jacob has committed himself to the promotion and advancement of Upstate, NY by creating a diverse portfolio of initiatives that produces results. From co-founding NGO’s that work to support the areas “creative class”, to launching a community-based fiber optic network, to spearheading the largest
gathering of “young professionals” in US history, Mr. Roberts continues to make positive impacts with his time and energy.

We are happy to welcome Jacob to the team!

What a team... Michele Bachmann, Dean Zimmermann, Mark Olson, Jacob Roberts... the PRT guys sure do a heckuva job picking people to promote their boondoggle.

Rep. Mark Olson, PRT Promoter, Right-Wing Hypocrite Dumps Himself

MN Publius:

Mark Olson is not running for reelection. Just subtracting the total time wasted on his pointless amendments and floor speeches, the 2009 legislative session should be roughly six weeks shorter. Even better, House staffers will no longer have to wear helmets while passing Olson’s office. His 16 year reign of terror is over.

Strib:

Olson said his involvement in the criminal justice system and a desire to change the process was actually one of the factors that tempted him to stay in elected office.

The Star Tribune fails to mention Rep. Mark Olson's work promoting Personal Rapid Transit (PRT).

There was a time when The pod people were very proud of Rep. Mark Olson as this Advanced Transit Association newsletter Transit Pulse (PDF) item titled "PRT HATERS" attests:

There’s a real Avid guy named Ken in Minneapolis. He can whip off some pretty wild cartoons. Check out www.roadkill.com. That’s seems to be his main occupation, but he devotes inordinate amounts of time to belittling PRT designers and promoters in the wildest of ways. (One wonders how this pays him, or is he wealthy enough to bash PRT in his leisure?) Ken Avidor thinks that all PRT promoters start with a hate-LRT premise. He sees the PRT community, including ATRA, as an anti-LRT conspiracy. That’s fine: he has a right to his opinions.

Yet he attacks people more than ideas and is ready to condemn with guilt by association. He conducts political crusades to defeat Minnesota politicians who are receptive to the benefits of PRT. Seattle-based ATRA member David Gow, having sparred with Ken on-line many times, concludes that it is pointless to debate this Minnesota activist and blogger. Gow finds Ken’s typical conversations a series of false claims about PRT, none of which he can back up, including ad hominem smears and wild conspiracy theories. Ed Anderson simply describes Avidor a madman.

Your editor called him in early July to offer a copy of the recent EU report summarizing the multi-faceted, multi-year PRT research program, with urgent recommendation for a pilot program. His first reaction was, “No, don’t send it.” Later he called my offer desperation! Under the delusion that PRT is a well-moneyed monolith, he blurted out, “You guys buy those reports.” After a further step in this very unpleasant exchange, he screamed “F#@& you!” and hung up. Nice guy, this New York transplant to Minnesota!

His original name is apparently Ken Weiner, born in Brooklyn in 1955. Check out his political thinking at dumpmarkolson.blogspot.com. The website seeks to unseat a Minnesota legislator who per Ed Anderson (who ought to know) says is currently the strongest, most articulate PRT supporter there. Many think it is best just to ignore Avidor. Others say he craves attention.

... a few issues later the editor of Transit Pulse admitted that Rep. Mark Olson may not have been the best pick to advocate for PRT at the Capitol.

According to Dick Gronning of the Minnesota group, activities are dwindling and membership is down. The Minnesota Sierra Club and other environmental groups are pro-LRT, judging their Hiawatha Line as a great success and often dismissing PRT as a right-wing conspiracy. Jeral Poskey has left Taxi 2000 and relocated back to the Silicon Valley. Taxi 2000 is busy but quite. Ed Anderson also remains quiet these days. A pro-PRT Republican legislator who bucked the Democrat landslide last month is in trouble over charges of domestic abuse.

Learn more about Rep. Mark Olson's boondoggle at the PRT is a Joke web site.

Personal Rapid Transit is a Nixon Era Concept

For over thirty years, J. Edward Anderson and his pals have been wasting our time with PRT:



Yes, that is Nixon's face in the photo.

The CPRT's David Gow Calls Rep. Mark Olson a "Certifiable Wacko"

Over at the Dump Bachmann blog, the Citizens for Personal Rapid Transit's Seattle representative David Gow ( Mr_Grant) left this comment:

May I make a strategic suggestion? You should be trying to organize a campaign to recall Slappy Olson. He seems to be the most irrelevant politician in Minnesota and a certifiable wacko, it shouldn't be that hard of a sales job.

It looks as if the CPRT has thrown Rep. Mark Olson under the bus... er ... pod.

The PRTistas were much more loyal to Dean Zimmermann. Even after Zimmermann lost his appeal on his bribery conviction, they still have his PRT plan for Minneapolis on their website.

J. Edward Anderson signed a statement of support for Dean Zimmermann calling the former Minneapolis councilman a "political prisoner".

Not very smart of the CPRT to turn their back on Rep. Mark Olson.

Rep. Mark Olson knows a few things. If the PRTistas turn their back on him, he could find the right publisher for his memoirs and tell all about how the PRT flim-flam operates. It might even become a bestseller.

Heck, I might even help him write it.


Dean Zimmermann Asked Developer for $250,000 for PRT

IN this video interview for Minneapolis Confidential, developer and builder Gary Carlson talked about the trial of Rep. Mark Olson's fellow PRT associate Gary Dean Zimmermann. Carlson briefly mentions that Zimmermann asked him for $250,000 for his PRT project with the Taxi 2000 Corporation... listen:



Longer version of this video at Minneapolis Confidential.

Heathrow Terminal 5 to Open Without ULTra Personal Rapid Transit System

From the BAA 2005:

On successful completion of all the milestones a year long pilot scheme will be introduced at Heathrow airport in 2008.

From the BBC on Monday:

Heathrow Airport operator BAA said the guided vehicles should be up and running in 2009.

No mention in the article or at the ULtra site why the project has been delayed a year (of course).

House GOP Dumps Mark Olson

WCCO:

ST. PAUL (AP) ― State Rep. Mark Olson was already a Republican without a caucus last session.

Now, House Republicans have formally expelled him from their ranks.

House Minority Leader Marty Seifert says the caucus acted at a meeting last Thursday. Olson did not attend.

Olson was suspended from the caucus a year ago while his domestic assault case was pending.

In July, he was convicted of causing his wife fear of bodily harm when they ran into each other and fell down behind their home. He was sentenced to two years' probation and ordered to pay fines and court costs of almost $400. His attorney said Olson acted in self-defense in an abusive relationship.

Seifert says Olson might get back into the caucus if he overturns his conviction on appeal or wins re-election, but several other Republicans are already interested in running in the Sherburne County district.

Olson said he didn't see much difference between suspension and explusion. "It really does nothing more than give these folks license to send people out into the district to run against me," he said.

Was Aldous Huxley a PRTista?

Really bad marketing blooper from a Vectus PRT brochure (PDF):

DAVID STROM: PRT "DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME."

FROM THE TAXPAYER LEAGUE'S RADIO SHOW 1/1/2005:

I'll give you my take on this (PRT)...First, Personal Rapid Transit already exists and it's called the automobile. Now, with that said, the argument for the PRT system that exists out there is...well...this is a great way to add capacity very rapidly without...uh...since it's elevated you don't have the same problems with having to knock down houses and various other things...uh...y'know, but if you start looking at the system, the problem is there is no system. It doesn't really... I mean, part of their argument is about how it failed somewhere else, "well, it's not really what we got here"... uh...and I say, well look, let's build it in Dubai. Let's build it where they want to throw tons of money at it... if it's so great, then we'll see. If not, uh... why should we be subsidizing it?... certainly not to the tune of 600 million bucks... that's a ton of money...uh, it just doesn't make any sense to me..

Although I disagree with David Strom on many other matters I have to admit he's consistent in his opposition to transit... even bogus, gadget transit.

Click To Play

In the Dump Mark Olson Mailbox

Email received yesterday:

Dear Mr. Ken,

Your ad hominem arguments against rep Mark Olson are boring.  To continue to discredit PRT efforts because Mark was convicted of a misdemeanor is absurd.

In light of recent evidence of humans affecting climate change, new ways of "greener" public transport should be a universal human concern - don't you think?  Does it not make your stance a mute point?

I am his nephew, and while in no way do I condone his behavior towardshis family, or support all of his political views, it would be nice to see some factual content on your site that would prove PRT to be a
'boondoggle' as you so happily assert (and you can leave the sound effects out this time).

What is your solution for a public transportation system which is economically and environmentally viable?  If you can't provide some substance to the debate, you should probably shut down your website and do something else with your time.

sincerely,

Paul S. Olson

I have always said that I'd go to any public venue in Big Lake or anywhere else in the 6th District and explain exactly why PRT is infeasible and why Northstar, LRT and other real transit intiatives are a good thing.

Bigpedia PRT vs Wikipedia PRT

There's something called Bigpedia that uses a lot of the material from the Wikipedia PRT page... but also includes facts that PRT fanatics have kept out of the Wikipedia page including links to skeptical sites like mine and Light Rail Now's "Cyberspace" article.

Go to the Bigpedia PRT page and scroll down to "Disadvantages":

Disadvantages

Most planners say that no economically successful PRT system has been demonstrated, and there have been too many failures for a prudent person to spend public funds. Transit planners normally evaluate a new transport method as part of an intermodal network. In these cases, a PRT line may compete against a rail or bus line. When operated in an intermodal transit network, PRT may not fully realize the travel time reductions advanced by proponents, because connections to other mass-transit modes are only possible when the other vehicle arrives; a disadvantage where infrequent transit can be the weakest link in an intermodal system. Timed connections between conventional mass-transit modes, though rare, can be more efficient than PRT intermodal use.

The claims made by proponents depend on certain reasonable but nonstandard design features (see above). Many planners argue that if conservative ridership, operating expense ratios and inter-vehicle lead distances (for bus and train systems) are used, PRT systems are less attractive than bus and train systems.

In transit planning with standard ratios, if PRT were built in an existing high density corridor, it would be less efficient than trains. Only if additional capacity were required in a low density corridor, would it be more efficient than a bus line or automobile, since the capital costs of streets are already sunk.

Because of network effects, PRT is not fully useful until it is widespread. In this view, a small PRT system will not attract demand because it does not go to many destinations. Many people say that only a large PRT can attract sufficient demand to be self-sustaining. How it could grow from a niche to a local or metropolitan network is unclear to these persons. Growth to a national network is thought especially unlikely.

Skeptics say that PRT just idles entire vehicles, which is true. The effects of vehicular recycling at rush hours are also disputed by some transit planners, because they are simulations. Some skeptics have said that since gross capacities have to be comparable (because the same number of people are being transported in the same time), no advantage can occur. However, comparing capacity (people per hour), and capacity utilization (money per person per hour) is a fallacy.

Some experienced advocates claim that the chief problem is that PRT threatens existing livelihoods associated with cars, busses, trains and related services. Since the market in rapid transit has a limited (government) budget in each city, and existing options are the best-funded, existing options and organizations tend to win political battles. As of 2001, this may be changing, because existing options have been unable to solve traffic problems.

The claimed very high vehicle utilizations (vehicles are usually carrying passengers at full speed, rather than parked), means that there might be less need for, and investment in private vehicles, and auxiliary private services such as repair and insurance. Although these are social advantages, they directly threaten the livelihoods of many persons.

PRT systems may be as unattractive as other public transit. People cannot customize them to their tastes, and therefore rarely have anything approaching the enthusiasm shown for a new car. At Morgantown, most students use, but casually despise the transportation system, and recount stories of its failures. Some jokingly claim the term "PRT" is said to stand for "Pretty Retarded Train."

Some call PRT a prime example of a federally funded "pork barrel" project, one of many located in West Virginia due to the influence of Senator Robert Byrd.

A PRT system is said to have lower costs and automated operations. These could lead to simpler organizations and smaller staff at governmental transportation offices. This directly reduces the responsibility and authority of government officials, which in most civil service systems, reduces their pay. It does not offer much incentive to administrators to adopt it.

Many authorities say that the cost of constructing and operating the system is unlikely to be as low as claimed. Some systems (such as Morgantown) have had much higher costs than planned (Morgantown has to use steam heat to keep its tracks free of snow). Any new technology has to climb a learning curve, and for every new system, promoters must make speculative claims when asserting low construction and operating costs. Historically, costs are underestimated on transit projects and demand overestimated. Further, methods of recovering unplanned cost overruns can cause political and public strife.

The neighbors of such a system could oppose unsightly towers holding an elevated rail system, as well as the guideway itself. New infrastructure is hard to build, particularly without the support of the community.

Daventry Politicos and Media Promote Pods That Citizens Didn't Ask For

The Daventry Express:

Pods prove a huge hit

By Alice Dyer

MORE than a 1,000 people visited an event to get a glimpse of Daventry's possible future.

The event, which ended on Friday, showcased Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) vehicles, which ran along the cycle path in Eastern Way.

Chris Millar, leader of Daventry District Council, said: “The showcase was a success. Most people, especially the younger ones, loved the concept.

“It was a great success in raising the profile for what Daventry is working to achieve and it’s alerted people to the positives before us.”

Members of the public, local school pupils, businesses, organisations and media from across the world all visited the site to see the driverless vehicles in action and some were given a ride in them.

If plans are given the go-ahead, an £80 million project could be launched to install a state-of-the-art PRT system across Daventry to replace the existing bus network.

It is hoped the scheme will ease congestion and save parking spaces with the town’s population set to increases to 40,000 by 2021.

Cllr Millar added: “The next stage will be looking towards the pilot scheme [which would run from the town centre to Middlemore] in two years time and getting the funding for it.”

... another letter dismissive of Cllr Millar's pod proposal:

Make more of what we have

AS TWO long-serving members of the Grange Residents' Association, we are becoming increasingly concerned with the health and welfare of council leader Chris Millar.

He appears to be suffering from delusions if he believes that the Daventry people share his vision of what we want for the future.

He also appears to be suffering with amnesia, as the promises he made to this estate about investment have been forgotten.
Thereby, the reason for this letter asks one question.

If this vision for Daventry's future, which nobody appears to want, can be achieved with investment, why can't reality come first?

Invest now in what you've got. Bring this estate, and others, up to the 21st century standard we, the people of Daventry, deserve.

Ann Smith (chairman) and M J Coomber (secretary)
Grange Residents' Association

The same old story... Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Duluth, Austin, Denver, Cincinnati, Seattle... citizens ask for a little improvement in their living conditions and the politicians like Rep. Mark Olson, Dean Zimmermann, Phil Krinkie and Michele Bachmann tell them to wait for pods in the sky by and by.

PRTistas Eating Their Own

The Mayor of Fountain Valley California in the Cyburbia Forum:

Hi,

My name is Gus Ayer, and I'm a City Council member in the fair city of Fountain Valley, California, currently taking my turn in the largely ceremonial position as Mayor.

Recently, I've been working with the Swedish Institute for Sustainable Transportation, which has been working to rescue the concept of Personal Rapid Transit from the clutches of crackpots, ideologues and anti-transit nutjobs. They recently sponsored the PodCar City conference in Uppsala, which I attended and spoke at, and their new Kompass group will help cities interested in new transit solutions to find a common direction.

From the comments of a PRTista's Daily Kos Diary in response to MnRaindog:

I've read your comments in DK history, and I can really appreciate your disdain for Bachman, but PRT as public transit doesn't rely on batshit crazy Republicans. The Swedish Institute for Sustainable Transportation, that has inspired me, is working to reclaim a valid idea form the wingnuts and crackpots.

Congratulations, Gus you're an honorary member of the Pod Squad:



UPDATE: The Daily Kos Diary posts by "Aeolus" on the Podcar Conference have apparently been removed.

Daventry Mayor Quits After City Hosts Personal Rapid Transit Conference

Last week the news from the English town of Daventry was:

A UNIQUE public transport system costing around £80million could make Daventry a world leader of innovation, a conference was told this week.

More than 100 representatives from around the globe were in town this week for the much-anticipated Daventry Transport Confer-ence 2007, where talks were given and debates were held over the potential benefits of Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) and other related transport technology.

Ian Vincent, Daventry District Council's head of paid service, told the conference yesterday (Wednesday): "We have an extensive growth agenda and we want to demonstrate to the world that we can lead on something as innovative as a PRT system.

"We want people to be proud of the town they live in. It will have attributes that it doesn't have now and we want to be at the leading edge of town development in this country."

This week the news from Daventry is:

The mayor of Daventry has controversially quit his role as the town's civic head.

...and why did the mayor quit?

During the last year the town council has slowly descended into turmoil, with dozens of councillors quitting.
One described the authority as a 'group of people effectively at war', and numerous reports have leaked out about infighting, in-crowds and bitterness between councillors.

The council currently has five empty seats.

In August town clerk Mrs Paddan quit her job and all four administrative staff at the authority handed in their notice a week later.

Chris Millar, leader of Daventry District Council, said: "It's very disappointing news and the town council is becoming a Whitehall farce.

"Individuals need to take a look at themselves, stop squabbling and start serving the public. There must be something rotten at the core of this body.

"The fact that the latest victim is the mayor shows everyone it is very dysfunctional."

...is the PRT Pod Curse at work in Daventry too?.

Rep. Mark Olson Stealth Fundraiser

Rep. Mark Olson's campaign web site has no mention of this fundraiser, but it showed up today as a scan from a local newspaper on the Grizzly Groundswell blog:



It claims that the following will be in attendance:

Senator Betsy Wergin

State Rep. Sondra Erickson

Rep. Bruce Anderson

Rep. Steve Drazkowski

Phil Krinkie, President of the Taxpayers League

Sue Jeffers "Republican Party Activist"

It is interesting to compare this list of Olson-supporting politicians to the list of elected officials in a similar fundraising advertisement back in 2006... are Rep. Michele Bachmann, Senator Norm Coleman and Lt. Governor Carol Molnau no longer supporting the Bible-hurling, PRT-promoting jailbird from Big Lake?

CETA's LRT Killers

From a 2003 Seattle Post Intelligencer article:

Maggi Fimia, founder of the Coalition for Effective Transportation Alternatives, which is aimed at killing light rail, says her group is working to get agreement among its members on a legislative package.

It could include support for Murray's governance bill, something requiring Sound Transit to analyze alternatives to light rail, and a bill to allow for a referendum and initiative process for Sound Transit.

Fimia's group is a coalition of groups that back various alternatives to light rail, such as bus rapid transit, a monorail that runs along the freeway, MagLev technology, personal rapid transit, and a Puget Sound-wide monorail.

The PRTistas now claim that they want to "work with" LRT... yeah, right.

CETA members like PRTista Emory Bundy are still trying to kill LRT.