KTRH-740 is reporting that Mayor White is agitating for Council to approve the city’s red light camera contract with American Traffic Solutions:
It appears a contract for red-light cameras will be pushed through Houston’s City Council, although Mayor Bill White says he’s still trying to convince council members to go with the American Traffic Solutions Co.
White says no elected officials have interfered with the selection process, and he doesn’t believe politics will play a part in making a decision.
As a reminder, Kristen Mack recently discovered the connection between Mayor White and ATS:
HPD maintains that ATS won because it had the best overall package.
As is typical in efforts to land profitable city contracts, someone on every side has some City Hall connection.
ATS’ ties are through former Texas Land Commissioner Gary Mauro, a good friend of White.
[snip]
Both worked in 1975 for then-U.S. Rep. Bob Krueger, D-New Braunfels. City Hall chatter to the contrary, Krueger says he has no ties to ATS.
But Mauro and White have other political connections. Mauro headed Bill Clinton’s presidential campaigns in Texas. White worked in Clinton’s administration as a deputy energy secretary.
And the reason for the contract challenge was because a requirement was changed as the red light camera test run got underway.
But the whole process has been shenanigan-free, Mayor White assures us.
RELATED READING: California: Modesto Cameras Increase Accidents,
Maryland: Red Light Cameras Increase Accidents, Georgia: Accidents Increased with Red Light Cameras, Winnipeg, Canada Report Shows Accidents Increased with Cameras, Portland Cameras Cause 140 Percent Jump in Rear End Collisions, Colorado Study: Red Light Cameras Increase Accidents 83 Percent, Philadelphia: Accidents Up at Camera Intersections, Washington Post: Red Light Cameras Increase Accidents
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