HAVE CITY OFFICIALS IN MAPLE HEIGHTS TAKEN STEPS TO KEEP THE TRAFFIC CAMERA BAN MEASURE FROM REACHING VOTERS?

Post by Maple Heights African American Gazette.

MAPLE HEIGHTS RESIDENTS PROTEST SPEED CAMERAS AND DROP OFF PETITIONS AT CITY HALL

Post by Maple Heights African American Gazette.

- -

MAPLE HEIGHTS IGNORES KEY ISSUES REGARDING ITS RECENT DECISIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS

According to the Maple Heights News, senior housing development and speed cameras will be coming to Maple Heights.

Why would a city open itself up to a potential litany of lawsuits and other legal problems when it is already in fiscal watch?

The use of traffic enforcement (such as red light and speed) cameras (in many cities and states)  is under fire for being unconstitutional.  In addition to, and at issue 1. where the cameras are used (in too many instances, predominantly poor and/or heavily minority areas)  2. the fact the registered car owner  (who may not be the driver) is cited  3. the appeal process (of appealing the traffic ticket)  4. Green Light Yellow Light Traps  5.  *Harm to the local economy  6. Photo radar/red light/speed cameras where the speed changes abruptly, and then 7. there's the issue with speed and red light camera errors [see also***] [and also ****]

And of course there's the  the whole safety vs revenue generation debate regarding the use of traffic enforcement cameras.

----                                           ---                                          ---

Side notes REGARDING BUSINESSES AND CONTRACTORS (LIKE PHOTO ENFORCEMENT EQUIPMENT COMPANIES) HIRED BY MAPLE HEIGHTS:

[Maple Heights is a predominantly African American city with predominantly African American taxpayers (who pay sales taxes, income taxes, property taxes).  Their money and other public (tax payer) monies go to hiring contractors, yet we see time and time again, African Americans being left out of the picture when it comes to hiring/training.  It is felt that contractors are predominantly of European ancestry, most  (it's) felt have no or very little" African American staff/workers, and (and it appears that) tend to get away with no insistence by city officials that the contractor show  minority paid participation/labor or the willingness to provide training to minorities.]  

Finally at issue is where private and public money circulates.  It has been proven that communities/cities, where money circulates within the community/city, do better financially.  Maple Heights has a high unemployment rate (9.8%), over burdened tax payers, not enough locally owned businesses, and  to have a lot of money flowing outside the city  is  detrimental to Maple Heights local economy.   [see: Related articles regarding money circulation below]
Unfortunately, it's felt that Maple Heights city council [and remember Maple Heights is under fiscal watch ] rarely if ever thinks  about  these facts  when making decisions about the disbursement of money.  Heck, do they even understand the principle of local money circulation?   

RELATED:

Traffic enforcement camera [Wiki]

Cleveland traffic camera case hits red light at Ohio Supreme Court while similar case is decided

Ohio Supreme Court to hear case on traffic cameras Wednesday

Ruling on traffic cameras rejects suit claiming they are saturated in black, poor neighborhoods (REJECTED FOR IMPROPER FILING NOT ON THE MERITS OF THE CASE), July 8, 2014

Are traffic cameras unconstitutional? Editorial Board Roundtable April 10, 2014 - great comments

*COUNTERPOINT: Proposed expansion of speed camera use in Illinois

NMA Objections To Red Light Cameras

***The New Miami Traffic Cameras: Sending over $1 million dollars to Optotraffic LLC of Lanham, Md.

****Surveillance systems warrant careful research March 17 2013

Cheverly Replaces OptoTraffic Speed Cameras January 19, 2012

AAA Clashes with City, Optotraffic Over Speed Cameras [2011]

Red-light cameras leaving a bad taste: Editorial March 28, 2014

Judge raises issues with speed camera citation enforcement

The Arguments Against Red Light Cameras

Red light camera traps: Does science prove our yellow lights are too short?

Palm Coast Getting Fleeced of Red-Light Camera Dollars, Harming Local Economy Nov 1, 2013

Maryland man fights back against speed camera tickets

Black Wall Street

Related articles regarding money circulation (something Maple Heights does not do and one reason why this city is in financial trouble):

Black buying power increases, but circulation of dollar within community remains low Nov 30, 2011

'Money is like blood – it needs to circulate for local economies to survive' Feb 20, 2013

Buying Local: How It Boosts the Economy June 11, 2009

Group Economics

Where you spend your money is important | Business Connections July 29, 2013

Black Wall Street

Durham's "Black Wall Street"

Taking Care of Business by Lee Jenkins

Why local money flows matter

New Study: Spending locally generates four times more economic benefit Sept 3, 2012

Know Your Worth: If We Don't Know, We Can't Grow Our Community Sept. 24, 2012