KPRC-2 reports that a private group has boosted its contribution of vehicles to what should be an expanded Motorist Assistance Program:
A local group gave a green light Thursday to the mayor’s plan to save the Safe Clear towing ordinance by donating vehicles to a motorist assistance program, Local 2 reported in an exclusive story.
The Houston Automobile Dealer’s Association said it would provide 10 new trucks to MAP — Harris County’s Motorist Assistance Program. MAP, operated by the county and funded through donations and grants, provides assistance to stranded motorists on freeways for no charge.
“This is a really quantum leap. This will double the size or more of MAP and more people on the freeways are going to be assisted,” said Walter Wainwright, with the Houston Automobile Dealer’s Association.
On Tuesday night, Houston Mayor Bill White and State Sen. John Whitmire reached an agreement to link the two programs and end the fight to have state lawmakers stop Safe Clear. Details are still being worked out. An official announcement is expected within the next several days.
Wainwright said the Houston Automobile Dealer’s Associated helped create MAP in 1986. Since then, deputies have helped 600,000 motorists.
That was some quick, substantive action as a result of the agreement between Sen. Whitmire and Mayor White.
We would suggest that Rick Casey, gossip columnists, and bloggers who constructed Republican conspiracy theories about Sen. Whitmire rather than taking him at his word that he preferred an expanded Motorist Assistance Program (a view he offered on KSEV-700 on January 6) deservedly look foolish about now. In retrospect, Sen. Whitmire’s threat of state legislation to kill $AFEclear seems to have provided Mayor White the incentive needed to transform the program from its revenue-enhancement origins to a more motorist-friendly assistance and mobility program. Houstonians — not a political party — benefit from this improvement to the program.
Early on, blogHOUSTON noted its support for an expanded Motorist Assistance Program.
