508 is a show about Worcester. This week, Mike and Brendan talk about crosswalks, internet silliness, and municipal broadband.
Audio: Download the mp3 or see more formats.
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Municipal Broadband Thoughts from Brendan
There is a plan for Comcast to move into Central MA if their mergers receive FCC approval. You may not be aware of just how abhorrent a company Comcast is, and how bad their takeover of MA (Worcester Co being the only area they don’t have a monopoly on) would be. With that, I compiled a quick list a reading material that might helpful in seeing why this proposal may have negative, unintended consequences for the city:
- They’re literally the worst company in America, according to Americans
- They actively lobby to keep municipalities from providing competing services to keep rates artificially high
- They openly guarantee price increases for stagnant services
- As the country’s largest provider of internet service, they own responsibility for the US placing behind Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Uruguay in internet speeds
- They’re actively engaged in a campaign to destroy the philosophy behind Net Neutrality
- The lobbying effort assembled by Comcast to approve their merger with TWC is not only one of the largest is history, it runs so deep it threatens to undermine the very regulatory process overseeing the merger
This merger offers the City the opportunity to at least explore the feasibility of a municipal fiber project, something a fair number of medium sized cities have undertaken successfully as a component of a larger EcDev strategy. If we’re serious about expanded development in life sciences, higher ed and retention of the entrepreneurial spirit that accompanies both; and equally serious about making Worcester as attractive as possible to residents shopping for an affordable place to live and work, we really need to be thinking forward as a city. In just a few short years, not having access to a gigabit fiber network in a city is going to be akin to not having electrical service. Comcast has made it clear they do not intend to invest in the infrastructure necessary to provide such services, and once they’re here their size as a corporation will make it all but impossible to attract competition that would. And at a higher cost to the consumer.
Worcester Emergency Management: “Height pointy shape & isolation are the dominant factors controlling where lightning will strike The presence of metal makes no difference”
Worcester Telegram, Jan 20, 1965.
I am told there's a guy standing by a Worcester Police Dept. crosswalk sting (Chandler & Wellington) holding a sign: IT'S A CROSSWALK TRAP.
— delnieve (@delnieve) July 29, 2014
Worcester City Council Agenda, March 18, 2014:
7m. Matthew Kracher request to stop the police crosswalk stings in Lancaster Street where it intersects with Dix Street. Petitioner heard – Referred to City Manager [PDF with more]
ME UNDERSTAND GARY ROSEN WANT WORCESTER TO HOST THE 2024 OLYMPICS?? NEED NEW LOCAL GAMES!!!!!!!! #WORCOLYMPICS
— SEKUL ANITNATNSOK (@BIZARROLUKES) August 2, 2014
The problem with the crosswalk situation is absolutely cultural, and, a two-way street with plenty of blame for both motorists and pedestrians who pay no attention whatsoever to do not walk lights. Having spent a lot of time walking in Worcester I agree with Brendan that’s it frightening. And much of my frustration is with fellow pedestrians. When I walk in Worcester I often feel like the only person in the city who is standing there waiting for the walk signal to turn. I’ve seen people with a “do not walk” light bolt right out into oncoming traffic without even stopping, then shout at the drivers who are trying not to hit them.
That being said, I think the city could help push this cultural shift by taking a closer look at the signal lights, the timing and whether they work. If pedestrians are having to wait five minutes after pressing a button to cross a two-lane road you’re going to have trouble getting buy-in. And then there are the lights that don’t work or just aren’t thought out. On the corner of Major Taylor Blvd and East Central I don’t know how many times as a driver I got a green arrow to make a right turn only to see the pedestrians crossing East Central in my direct path also had a “walk” light. In short, I never get the feeling walking around Worcester that the pedestrian light situation is actually thought out in any way. If you look at the number of pedestrians that get struck by cars each year (never mind the near misses that never get reported) it seems like this should take a higher priority with the city than it seems to.
Contrast this with Northampton — I know, not exactly apples to apples. If you’ve ever walked in Northampton you know that on “do not walk” signals EVERYONE stops. I’ve seen people try to cross and been told to stop by other pedestrians.