irreality

Well, maybe.

The US Department of Transportation recently started accepting proposals from states and businesses who were interested in developing any of eleven federally designated high-speed rail corridors.  Two of the specified routes run right through Texas – one entering the state from the southeast and ending in Houston, the other coming in from the north, and running through Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio.

With the federal government promising a 80-20 match for funding, one would expect companies to be jumping all over it, but no proposals for these two routes have been submitted yet.

Peter LeCody of Texas Rail Advocates thinks it is because Texas has a bit of work to do first.

“Texas is not on the horizon to take advantage of the recently authorized Railway Safety Act,” he said, noting the law that has prompted the federal call for programs. “Other states are already planning for high-speed passenger rail corridors, and some have timetables in place to have intercity passenger rail service as early as 2012. Texas does not.”

Part of that is due to the The Texas Constitution, which currently forbids spending any money from gasoline sales on rail programs. TXDOTs executive director, Amadeo Saenz, said the department is well aware of the call for proposals and is working on a plan.

“We need the flexibility to solve our transportation problems with the right solution. Our motor fuel taxes can only be used for highways. We have studies that say we need 18 or 19 new lanes on I-35 through Dallas to solve our congestion problems. Well, you are not going to fit that many lanes on I-35. What other solutions could give you the same results in terms of moving traffic? Perhaps rail or transit is the answer in that corridor, but we don’t have that flexibility.”

Change may be coming soon.  When the 2009 Legislature comes to session, they will be asked to decide if creating a new rail division within TXDOT to oversee development of passenger rail lines between Texas’ biggest cities is a good idea.  In addition, Senator John Carona has introduced a bill that would call a vote next fall to amend the state constitution to exempt high-speed passenger rail facilities from property taxes.

All aboard!

Twenty five year old redneck douche bag Jimmy Booth was arrested by the Shreveport, Louisiana police department yesterday, accused of second degree battery.  Seems that Jimmy and his three Longview buddies were out partying near Shreveport when they ran into the thirty two year old Kaylon Johnson at a gas station, and decided to beat the shit out of him while yelling racial slurs at him and President-Elect Barack Obama.

Kaylon had been minding his own business, but happened to be wearing an Obama tshirt and was committing the terrible offense known as being black.  He suffered a broken nose, a broken tear duct and a broken eye socket, and will require at least two surgeries to repair the damage.

This law needs to be extended statewide – no, nationwide – immediately. There is no reason not to tow a car that is being operated without insurance, as it is illegal for that vehicle to be operating on public highways in the first place.

DALLAS – Drivers with no proof of insurance will have their vehicles towed under a new policy that goes into effect Jan. 1. On that date, the Dallas Police Department will enforce the Uninsured Motorist Ordinance approved by the Dallas City Council on May 28.

Under this ordinance drivers stopped for a traffic violation who cannot show proof of auto insurance meeting state requirements will be issued a citation and will have his or her vehicle towed at the owner’s expense to the Dallas Auto Pound. The City already tows the vehicles of uninsured drivers involved in traffic accidents.

“The Dallas Police Department currently issues about 75,000 citations a year to motorists with no auto insurance,” said Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle. “In addition, officers towed over 3000 vehicles from accident scenes in 2007 where the driver did not have insurance. Motorists are urged to obtain the proper state required auto insurance to avoid having their vehicles towed.”

People are already bitching about this, calling it a “poor man tax”, and you know what?  Tough shit.  If you can’t afford to cover your car with the basic liability insurance that the state of Texas already requires all drivers to have…

or, can’t obtain insurance because you’re here illegally…

you do not deserve the privilege of driving on our public streets and highways.

It sure looks like it.

The Austin Business Journal is reporting that a memo has been sent out to Dell workers asking them to consider taking up to five days of unpaid time off to further help the company save money and prevent layoffs.

According to spokesman David Frink, the memo from CEO Michael Dell says the new program calls for a temporary companywide hiring freeze, the elimination of contract employees, severance packages to those who depart voluntarily, and a voluntary furlough of one to five days. The memo also states that more layoffs may be necessary if the other elements of the program do not achieve enough cost savings.

A sobering memo indeed, as Dell Computer Corporation is one of Central Texas’ largest companies.

“We’re implementing a program that helps better position Dell for long-term competitiveness,” says Frink. “What we’re trying to do is address costs in a way that gives employees more choices.”

This memo follows an announcement last March disclosing the planned shutdown of Dell’s desktop manufacturing facility and layoffs of 8,800 in an effort to save money.