Enviro-nitwits of the day

By Michelle Malkin  •  December 23, 2008 03:06 PM

Seattle’s no-salt policy is endangering lives. It’s just the latest example of enviro-nitwit-ism from greenies in the Puget Sound, who would rather force commuters to risk accidents than “pollute” salty sea water with more salt.

Oy:

To hear the city’s spin, Seattle’s road crews are making “great progress” in clearing the ice-caked streets.

But it turns out “plowed streets” in Seattle actually means “snow-packed,” as in there’s snow and ice left on major arterials by design.

“We’re trying to create a hard-packed surface,” said Alex Wiggins, chief of staff for the Seattle Department of Transportation. “It doesn’t look like anything you’d find in Chicago or New York.”

The city’s approach means crews clear the roads enough for all-wheel and four-wheel-drive vehicles, or those with front-wheel drive cars as long as they are using chains, Wiggins said.

The icy streets are the result of Seattle’s refusal to use salt, an effective ice-buster used by the state Department of Transportation and cities accustomed to dealing with heavy winter snows.

“If we were using salt, you’d see patches of bare road because salt is very effective,” Wiggins said. “We decided not to utilize salt because it’s not a healthy addition to Puget Sound.”

Instead, they’re using sand — which is even more damaging to the environment, as other city officials point out:

“We never use sand,” said Ann Williams, spokeswoman for Denver’s Department of Public Works. “Sand causes dust, and there’s also water-quality issues where it goes into streets and into our rivers.”

End result of this moron policy?

“Sunday was full of car crashes, even after several pleas from State Patrol and local police to stay off the roads.

The State Patrol responded to 157 collisions Sunday in King County. …

Between noon and midnight on Saturday, the State Patrol responded to 246 collisions … in King County.” “Snow: Sunday Traffic accidents by the numbers”

Happy Festivus, Seattleites.

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Posted in: Enviro-nitwits

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Comments


  1. #1
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:13 pm, AniMEL said:

    I hope the families of the first people killed in these car crashes sue the crap out of the City of Seattle for refusing to use a proven method to make the roads safer. And I hope the City loses big time.

    I can hear it now…”oh, but so many more will die if we don’t care more about the environment now!” I’m sure the families will feel so lucky to have been martyred for this BS cause.

  2. #2
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:16 pm, JHSII said:

    EVERY single one of those accidents should be compensated for not by the insurance companies, but by the city of Seattle. No bail-outs for the city either!!

    Of course, if global warming were for real then there wouldn’t be any snow or ice anywhere, duh.

  3. #3
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:16 pm, frostrt said:

    “If we were using salt, you’d see patches of bare road because salt is very effective,” Wiggins said. “We decided not to utilize salt because it’s not a healthy addition to Puget Sound.”
    —————————————

    It’s also “not healthy” to be seriously injured/killed in an accident that could have been avoided if your city had treated the roads they way they should have.

    Salt is harmless. It melts ice, which can be harmful when on public roads.

    What is so complicated about this?

  4. #4
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:17 pm, TMoney said:

    They need more oxygen up there or something. They got no common sense to display.

  5. #5
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:19 pm, granite said:

    Enviro-nitwits of the day

    You’re too kind.

    At the very least, the people who made the decision not to use salt are idiots.

  6. #6
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:23 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    We don’t want to have any salt run-off into the water….. even though it’s SALT WATER….

    Just googling I saw where they dumped a bunch of tires into that area of water back in the 70′s to try and form an artificial reef…..

    But now they can’t even salt the streets – making them driveable & safe?

    Wisconsin may not be perfect, but at least it’s not Seattle!

  7. #7
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:23 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    The left side of the Bell curve takes over…

    Yeah, salt water in the ocean – I believe it’s the Morton’s Effect and Al Gore is selling sodium chloride credits – for mankind you understand…

  8. #8
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:24 pm, Mister P said:

    The city’s approach means crews clear the roads enough for all-wheel and four-wheel-drive vehicles, or those with front-wheel drive cars as long as they are using chains, Wiggins said.

    Wait a minute. Chains damage tires, causing more rubber polution as tires need to be replaced more often.
    Four-wheel drive cars use too much gas increasing green house gases.
    ___________________________________

    Reminds me of the environuts who demanded scrubbers for the electrical plants east of the Grand Canyon. Some mathematical wizard figured out that the environmental impact of the mining and trucking of the material for the scrubbers created far more pollution.

    Of course the rate payers of Phoenix have had to pay for the Environuts.

  9. #9
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:24 pm, Paul Revere said:

    This type of stuff is one reason I could never live there.

  10. #10
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:26 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

    LMAO… if they think their car insurance rates were high BEFORE this… just wait until the Ins. industry re-rates them after they get wind of this stupid policy.

    And they’re worried about pollution???

    Another consequence of their policy will be to have oil and gas spills as a result of these accidents… and the petro-sheen will run off into where????…..

    The Puget Sound…

    Idiots

  11. #11
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:26 pm, Mister P said:

    Wisconsin may not be perfect, but at least it’s not Seattle!

    Just read about the two guys freezing to death. One was delivering papers, and other returning home. He freezes 1 mile from his house near Sheboygan.

  12. #12
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:28 pm, iamsaved said:

    With this country and the those in charge, it’s a constant case of the “tail wagging the dog”. Common sense has left those we’ve elected to do their jobs.

    As to Denver, they used to use sand or small gravel on their snow covered streets as I received enough chipped windshields on rental cars over the years because they wouldn’t use salt.

  13. #13
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:29 pm, frostrt said:

    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:26 pm, NJ-Aviator said:

    And they’re worried about pollution???

    Another consequence of their policy will be to have oil and gas spills as a result of these accidents… and the petro-sheen will run off into where????…..

    The Puget Sound…

    Idiots

    —————————————-
    Excellent point. Which is worse, salt on the roads, or gasoline (and other chemicals) spilling out of a wrecked car?

  14. #14
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:29 pm, John Deaux said:

    Why not extract salt from water that came from Puget Sound? You can’t say it’s harmful if it was there in the first place.

  15. #15
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:29 pm, babbledabble said:

    Well here in Waukesha (WI) they aren’t putting down salt either because we have had too much snow & they can’t afford it. So I am not driving. I fear I may be trapped indoors all winter if this snow keeps up.

  16. #16
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:33 pm, Obi-Wandreas said:

    Here in Buffalo, we’re up to our waists in snow that was dumped over the weekend. If anyone ever tried to suggest going without salt here, they wouldn’t be allowed to finish the sentence.

  17. #17
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:33 pm, frostrt said:

    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:29 pm, babbledabble said:
    Well here in Waukesha (WI) they aren’t putting down salt either because we have had too much snow & they can’t afford it. So I am not driving. I fear I may be trapped indoors all winter if this snow keeps up.

    ————————————–

    Hope it lets up. One or two “snowed-in” days may be fun, but it doesn’t take long after that for cabin fever to set in.

  18. #18
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:36 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    “So I am not driving. I fear I may be trapped indoors all winter if this snow keeps up.”

    Given the November 4th results – it may not be a bad idea to stay there til 2012….. ( or at least the 2010 mid-terms )

    :lol:

  19. #19
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:39 pm, get-off-my-lawn said:

    Don’t give them any ideas about the using the salt from seawater; just imagine the taxes when they decide they can only use naturally sun-dried sea salt; that stuff’s like $14 a pound in the grocery!
    It does, however go great with arugula.

  20. #20
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:41 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Here in Buffalo, we’re up to our waists in snow that was dumped over the weekend.

    Here in Hawaii we’re….never mind…. ;)

  21. #21
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:42 pm, mkarnes2007 said:

    Dallas uses sand too. I moved down here from Cincinnati four years ago. I tried to point out the effectiveness of salt on ice and snow. The locals told me that salt ruins cars. I tried to point out to them that automobile accidents has a tendency to ruin cars as well. And that salt washes off, whereas busted fenders and bumpers can not be repaired by a car wash.

  22. #22
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:43 pm, walterc said:

    jrlingreenbay said:

    “So I am not driving. I fear I may be trapped indoors all winter if this snow keeps up.”

    Given the November 4th results – it may not be a bad idea to stay there til 2012….. ( or at least the 2010 mid-terms )

    Clinging to your guns and bibles.

    If those people in Seattle get any dumber, we can reclassify them as trees and declare the place a protected area and post keep out signs.

  23. #23
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:43 pm, frostrt said:

    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:41 pm, AlohaGuy said:
    Here in Buffalo, we’re up to our waists in snow that was dumped over the weekend.
    Here in Hawaii we’re….never mind….

    ————————————–

    Mele Kalikimaka (And forgive me if I spelled it wrong)to you and all!

  24. #24
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:48 pm, englishqueen01 said:

    Maybe they’re hoping to permanently reduce the carbon footprints of some commuters…you know, plow your car into a ditch or a tree and die. You’ll save the planet!

    Where I work, they wanted to ban salt because it was bad for the environment. They couldn’t seem to get it that slippery sidewalks = falls = lawsuits, until someone said they’d just cut the positions of the anti-salt folks to pay for additional insurance.

  25. #25
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    Mele Kalikimaka (And forgive me if I spelled it wrong)to you and all!

    Sretan Bozic y veseli Novi Godina!

  26. #26
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm, Flyoverman said:

    Never let science or safety get in the way of political correctness.

    DUHHHHHH

  27. #27
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm, jbh45 said:

    Wisconsin may not be perfect, but at least it’s not Seattle!

    What makes Wiz-con-sin more tolerable to Seattle (and most any other locale) is the ratio of taverns to citizens. Bottoms up jrlingreenbay!

    Too bad your Packers couldn’t outlast the hapless Bears last night!

  28. #28
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:51 pm, tre said:

    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:29 pm, babbledabble said:
    Well here in Waukesha (WI) they aren’t putting down salt either because we have had too much snow & they can’t afford it. So I am not driving. I fear I may be trapped indoors all winter if this snow keeps up.

    Babbledabble, I’ll get out and drive my gas-guzzling Silverado and try to pump more greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Maybe, I can cause enough global warming to thaw you out.

  29. #29
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:52 pm, USN RET said:

    Just last week the local news was doing a story about ecofriendly salt brine they were applying to the mountain passes here in WA state. They use the left over whey from cheese making, add just a little more salt and spray it on the roads. The highways are nice and clear its just when you get into cities that the roads suck. Its kind of fun me driving along in my old El Camino w/chains and the SUVs are in the ditch.

  30. #30
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:53 pm, babbledabble said:

    Up to your waist? We had 13.5 inches last week for a total of about 30 so far this month, more last night & more on the way. The streets are snow packed because the plows just skim off the top layer & push it into our driveway.
    And yes I have cabin fever. Why do you think they call me babbledabble? I am already talking to myself.

  31. #31
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:55 pm, jbh45 said:

    Man its really bad in LA today. We had, like, a lot of rain yesterday, and like now its really sunny and like around 55 degrees. Way cool, but really bad at the same time man!

    Far out.

  32. #32
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 4:04 pm, frostrt said:

    On December 23rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    Sretan Bozic y veseli Novi Godina!

    —————————————

    Not THAT’S a holiday greeting I’ve never received before!

    Right back atcha! :)

  33. #33
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 4:10 pm, SixDegrees said:

    250 accidents in one county sounds roughly comparable to what we’ve seen in the Detroit area over the last couple of days.

    Where we know how to drive in snow, and use salt in abundance.

    Given the relative rarity of major snowfalls in the Seattle area, it sounds to me much more likely that the accident rate there is due to driver inexperience rather than which deicing/traction improving methods are in use.

    It also strikes me that Seattle has an abundance of sand, and that Detroit has an abundance of rock salt – and not vice versa.

    Sorry, but this strikes me as major overreaching.

    I bet if anyone bothered to look, they’d find some real news out there somewhere.

  34. #34
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 4:19 pm, denver republican said:

    OMG. Did y’all read the rest of the story? How irresponsible is this?

    That leaves many drivers, including Seattle police, pretty much on their own until nature does to the snow what the sand can’t: melt it.

    The city’s patrol cars are rear-wheel drive. And even with tire chains, officers are avoiding hills and responding on foot, according to a West Precinct officer.

    I hope no one in hilly Seattle needs help from police the next few days ’cause they ain’t gonna get it.

  35. #35
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 4:19 pm, irving said:

    Environmentalists always choose policy over people. As long as they, themselves, suffer no particular harm, they applaud policies that make life harder for others.

  36. #36
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 4:25 pm, frostrt said:

    On December 23rd, 2008 at 4:19 pm, denver republican said:
    OMG. Did y’all read the rest of the story? How irresponsible is this?

    That leaves many drivers, including Seattle police, pretty much on their own until nature does to the snow what the sand can’t: melt it.

    The city’s patrol cars are rear-wheel drive. And even with tire chains, officers are avoiding hills and responding on foot, according to a West Precinct officer.
    I hope no one in hilly Seattle needs help from police the next few days ’cause they ain’t gonna get it.

    ————————————–

    OMG indeed. I hadn’t even thought about how this could affect the police’s ability to do their job.

    :(

  37. #37
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 4:27 pm, Jeddite said:

    I cant say that I’ve seen many gas/electric hybrids on I-5 while community to/from work in Seattle.

    <3 my Jeep Cherokee

  38. #38
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 4:43 pm, PrestoPundit - Greg Ransom said:

    People in the Pacific Northwest have never used salt on the roads because it rusts out cars.

    It’s that simple.

    Using salt on the roads is dumb.

    They don’t call the East coast and the Midwest the “rust belt” for no reason.

  39. #39
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 4:46 pm, txvet2 said:

    Pardon to anyone who may have already come up with this, but I think I can solve their problem. All they have to do is set up a desalination plant, then use the salt residue from the purified water on the streets. That way, they’re only returning actual sea salt to the ocean. (I know, I know, it’s doing it the hard way, but what other way do liberals ever do things?)

    Down here they’re much more efficient. When we get ice or snow, they just close all the major roads. No travel, no accidents.

  40. #40
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 4:52 pm, docflash said:

    Where is that Global Warming when you need it?

  41. #41
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 4:52 pm, txvet2 said:

    On December 23rd, 2008 at 4:43 pm, PrestoPundit – Greg Ransom said:

    Yup, it’s a lot healthier for cars and drivers to get T-boned by somebody sliding through a stop sign.

  42. #42
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 4:55 pm, frostrt said:

    On December 23rd, 2008 at 4:52 pm, docflash said:
    Where is that Global Warming when you need it?

    —————————————

    Oooooh, snap! :)

  43. #43
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 5:04 pm, RabbidSquirrel said:

    dumba$$e$. you dont want hard packed streets or intersections. why does everyone always want to follow in the exact same path as the car in front of them??????

    If you are not going to sand, salt or magnesium chloride the roads then you want to drive in the snow itself for traction. its like driving on a beach if you will just stay off the ice.

    Geez… and stay out of the left hand lane or off the roads completly if you cant drive in bad weather too. And while Im at it. All of the tourists who are afraid of mountains and snow – DONT COME TO COLORADO. You can DIE, because Denver is surrounded by 10000ft cliffs on all sides!!!!! One mistake and its over!!! I cant believe they even built roads here!!

    Go to Cali, Utah or Vermont first and practice there.

  44. #44
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 5:05 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    Enviro-nitwit greenies in the Puget Sound and assorted tree hugging jerks of all stripes have never had a problem hurting or killing their fellow humans for a Touchy Feely moment. From the ban on DDT to spiking trees to NOT salting the roads people die and what do we get from the Eco-Freaks? “Helps with over population”. Of course people can stay home. Just how many days of work, school, shopping and doctors appointments are they suppose to miss? Stay home? Tell that to the utility workers and see a city shut down yesterday. Alex Wiggins, chief of staff for the Seattle Department of Transportation should stay home-forever.

    Yes that salt can rust out a car if you don’t hose it off once in a while-your teeth rot if you don’t brush them-we can set up a Department of Teeth Brushing and Car Chassis Rinsing for the enfeebled.

  45. #45
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 5:09 pm, nlebou said:

    Just googling I saw where they dumped a bunch of tires into that area of water back in the 70’s to try and form an artificial reef…..

    From what I remember, it didn’t work either.

  46. #46
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 5:11 pm, DagneyT said:

    Do these whack jobs ever listen to themselves and say, “I sound ridiculous!”?

    Nope. The green-weinie tree-hugger standing next to them is nodding in agreement, so why would they?

  47. #47
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 5:13 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On December 23rd, 2008 at 4:43 pm, PrestoPundit – Greg Ransom said:
    People in the Pacific Northwest have never used salt on the roads because it rusts out cars. It’s that simple. Using salt on the roads is dumb. They don’t call the East coast and the Midwest the “rust belt” for no reason.

    I live in Minnesota (what you refer to as the “rust belt”.) We use salt, sand, etc. We have a fantastic snow removal program and can travel the main roads almost as soon as the snow stops falling. However, most of us stay home after storms if we are instructed to do so…or unless we have snowmobiles or skis. Oh, and there is a simple rust protectant we get on our cars. We have never had rust on any of our cars. Even if we did get a little rust, we use salt because it saves lives, it’s that simple.

  48. #48
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 5:40 pm, dkeppner said:

    Its one city in one county. You can probably guess which way they vote too.

    The number of accidents cited in the report reflect only those handled by the state troopers, it does not count the number of accidents occurring on city streets.

    On the right side of the mountains, the story is different. You won’t read about this type of cluster in say, Spokane, where they got 2 feet of snow in 24 hours. Pre-spray, salt, and sand applied.

  49. #49
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 5:41 pm, chep said:

    It’s retarded. I live in Kirkland which is about 20 minutes across Lake Washington from Seattle.

    Greg Nickels should be under arrest for endangering the city at large and the entire city council should be as well. That guy is running for re-election and will probably win.

    The streets are not too bad in all places. Most major roads have gotten better but sand doesn’t do much besides make the roads dirtier.

    A lot of the problem with these accidents is idiot drivers who think they can speed around and then they have an accident when they hit a patch of ice and lose control. The city should be sued to liquidate all of it’s money and the city council and mayor as well.

  50. #50
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 5:46 pm, Common Sense said:

    Dude!

    You can DIE, because Denver is surrounded by 10000ft cliffs on all sides!!!!!

    Denver is NOT surrounded by 10,000ft cliffs! Denver is on the plains, NOT in the mountains!

    And the mountains roads are perfectly safe as long as you aren’t an idiot.

    As to Denver, they used to use sand or small gravel on their snow covered streets as I received enough chipped windshields on rental cars over the years because they wouldn’t use salt.

    Denver may not use sand, but the suburbs and the state do. Everyone uses mag cloride which keeps things from freezing in the first place, with sand on the intersections and hills. We also have lots of sunshine which usually melts things in a day or two, unless we get multiple feet of snow or a deep freeze (like the last couple of weeks).

  51. #51
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 5:52 pm, HuskySig said:

    What happens when all of the snow melts? Isn’t all of this fresh water going to dilute Puget Sound?

  52. #52
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 6:03 pm, MarcoPolo said:

    The comments section is awesome!

    Thinking about all those cute little green cars sliding into the ditches, while the dreaded SUVs roll on amuses me to no end.

  53. #53
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 6:04 pm, Jeff2161 said:

    Advice to Seattle drivers: Learn how to drive’ or stay home. 4-wheel drive does NOT help you stop either…

  54. #54
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 6:08 pm, TomB said:

    Having lived most of my life south of the snow line I’m not sure if this is true, but I heard on some edutainment program that sugar can also be used to melt ice.

    So why not use sugar? It’s more expensive to be sure, but mainly there’s no telling how many diabetic whales would go into comas as a result. Further sugar can be made into ethanol, an important fuel, and we wouldn’t want to use fuel in a transportation system, would we? Yep, obviously the Seattle-ites are very wise to just have more accidents. Clearly there’s no environmental harm in sending vehicles to the scrap heap ahead of schedule. When we get socialized health care the injuries will be taken care of as well (maybe they already have socialized health care up there?).

    We’re in for a glorious future, aren’t we?

  55. #55
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 6:14 pm, jwm said:

    Some dim bulb wrote this: They don’t call the East coast and the Midwest the “rust belt” for no reason.

    It’s called the rust belt because of the thousands of factories closed in the 1970′s to the present. You know, that thing called the industrial base of our country?

    There should be an IQ test given before the moderators of this site allow people to submit posts.

  56. #56
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 6:40 pm, Kokonut said:

    Wouldn’t more salt be used by the locals for their own sidewalks, steps, and driveways everywhere west of the Cascade mountains where all things flow into Puget Sound than the city of Seattle?

    I wonder.

    Anybody have access to figures on tons of salt bags sold to locals in Seattle, Tacoma, Puyalup, Olympia, Everett, etc..etc…etc..?

  57. #57
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 6:42 pm, feebiebabe said:

    Im sure the SAME folks that will sue the City because of the accidents were the same idiots who supported the “anti-salt” answer…

    Typical.

  58. #58
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 6:48 pm, Danceswithdachshunds said:

    I would expect the accident rate to decrease or eventually decrease because: 1. Most sane people probably avoid venturing out unless it’s unavoidable. 2. Many of those who do risk going out do not go fast plus some of them get stuck. 3. Darwin….

  59. #59
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 6:59 pm, allrsn said:

    front-wheel drive cars as long as they are using chains,

    chains on front wheel drive???? LMAO it would be fun sitting and watching them try to stop fast, one wheel catches a link in packed snow and the other does not!!! tilt a whirl time.

  60. #60
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 6:59 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Mele Kalikimaka (And forgive me if I spelled it wrong)to you and all!
    Sretan Bozic y veseli Novi Godina!

    Now that’s misspelled!

    Thank you – same to you and yours

  61. #61
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 7:01 pm, KCK said:

    The hill people in Seattle, such as onCapitol Hill, are dim on gun ownership, as well. Let’s see…drug proliferation, inner city crime, no police vehicle access, and no personal self defense creed. Gotta love the Seattle logic!

  62. #62
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 7:18 pm, GJCorby said:

    “We’re trying to create a hard-packed surface,” said Alex Wiggins, chief of staff for the Seattle Department of Transportation. “It doesn’t look like anything you’d find in Chicago or New York.”

    ______________________________

    Some other things made from hard packed snow, polar ice caps and glaciers.

  63. #63
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 7:22 pm, TooMuchTime said:

    This has nothing to do with the environment. It has everything to do with socialism and getting people out of their cars. Yes, once the insurance companies figure out that this new city policy causes more accidents, then the insurance rates will go up. Steeply. Whoops! There they go!

    Those drivers that can’t afford it will be forced to give up their cars. Then the enviro-nazis will start tearing up the streets because so few people are driving.

    It’s like gun control. It has nothing to do with guns; it has to do with control.

    That’s all this is. Control.

  64. #64
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 7:27 pm, torabora said:

    My Mama always told me that stupid is as stupid does…and those damnded Seatellite people must be about dumb as a post turtle.

  65. #65
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 7:36 pm, ajmontana said:

    I going to put a classified ad up in Seattle.
    “Buy a Clue for $1.00″

  66. #66
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 7:46 pm, PhredE said:

    Ah, a story about my part of the world, and dealing with this situation as I write…

    A couple things are worth pointing out:

    Salt has a relatively narrow temperature range in which it works well. The use of “sand” is curious as crushed gravel is already widely used, provides excellent traction and is readily available here in the region.

    Oh yeah, the local county transportation people even recycle the gravel (eg. “pick it up”) after it serves it’s usefulness.

  67. #67
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 7:47 pm, Oroso said:

    For the record it’s not just Seattle. As far as I know neither Washington or Oregon use salt.

  68. #68
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 8:10 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    And they don’t use it here in the Sierra Nevada, CA — mountainous terrain, hills, valleys, etc. Makes for interesting driving at 7000′ elevation.

    I’ve learned that I have no choice but to deal with it, and that’s why we all drive SUVs here. The snow plows pack down the snow (over ice) here too. And since it snows so much, you have no choice but to drive a high clearance car such as an SUV.

    So much for environmentalism.

    It’s always interesting to see the greenie liberal tourons (tourist + moron) coming here to ski from the SF Bay Area who have no idea how to drive in this stuff.

  69. #69
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 8:13 pm, HeatherRadish said:

    This has nothing to do with the environment. It has everything to do with socialism and getting people out of their cars.

    You called it. The environment is just the hook to get people to voluntarily cede control of their lives to the collective.

    What makes Wiz-con-sin more tolerable to Seattle (and most any other locale) is the ratio of taverns to citizens.

    Fear not, the libtard nannies in Madison are working to correct that.

  70. #70
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 8:25 pm, kylos said:

    I’ve never wrecked a car on snowy roads in Michigan, but I’ve had a car whose frame simply rusted away. Salt also kills plants in the spring. In my family we’ve had numerous cars in ditches over the years, but they’ve never required any repairs as a result. Snow’s not that dangerous unless you’re being willfully ignorant of the conditions.

    And, no, there’s nothing inherently dangerous in driving on a packed surface. That’s how side roads in Michigan are kept for the majority of the winter (only main routes are salted). Driving in poor conditions simply requires giving yourself plenty of room for any manuevers.

    But yeah, not clearing busy roads is a bad idea, as the traffic volume simply won’t allow proper winter driving techniques.

  71. #71
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 8:54 pm, Gwillie said:

    Been snowing / freezing for over a week now and today was the first time I drove down a plowed road. I’m talking Highway99 in Everett. I-5 was packed snow and ice, it looked like Stevens Pass

  72. #72
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 8:54 pm, love2rumba said:

    We used to salt the roads to prevent ice patches on roads uniformly…at least Marysville per se is salting the main roads now..however the (Snohomish) County hasn’t done much of a twit except pour sand on the ice on their roads.

    So as a result right now there are spots where you’ve got 10-12″ deep “ice potholes” forming at busy intersections like the one north of Marysville called “Smokey Point”…if one does not crash into something, one’s suspension will be destroyed.

    Also no one can get any rock salt to melt ice on sidewalks/driveways right now..there has been a run on this item…or is the state putting the breaks on people being able to get the salt by controlling supply?-I’m really not sure-I just know we can’t get any ice melting salt for at least another week.

    I only travel certain roads before 9am and then after 9pm at night because there is nothing but bumper to bumper traffic otherwise until you get to I-5.

    Global Warming? Where is it when we need it!

  73. #73
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 8:56 pm, love2rumba said:

    By the way Marysville is about 35 miles north of Seattle, WA.

  74. #74
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 9:02 pm, FamilyMan said:

    This is the same city that didn’t want bonfires on their beaches, because it caused global warming.
    GEES!

  75. #75
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 9:19 pm, dadinseattle said:

    I picked my moniker on purpose. It says not everyone in and around Seattle is beyond help. Conservatives live here too.
    The amount of snow/ice we have around here is not normal. Usually the lower elevations get snow and it is gone in a day or two, washed away by temperature and rain. We are now in day 13 of snow on the ground, and it’s deep and it’s icy.
    The roads range from impassible to bumpy ice to ice rinks!
    Today I saw a Albertsons semi-truck stuck trying to pull up into the stores drive, a block down the street a Safeway semi had met a similar fate trying to make a sharp turn on an icy spot. Both were within sight of their destinations and both had chains fail!
    More snow on way tonight, Christmas shopping is slipping further and further behind!

  76. #76
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 9:36 pm, dadinseattle said:

    Okay it’s only day 6, I added a week for the schools closing last Wednesday for the snow on their half day- even though it never snowed a bit that day!
    The NEA here takes the half days seriously, and they can’t have people messing up their pizza parties after school by having to to worry about students or parents witnessing their “work”!

  77. #77
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 9:47 pm, havok said:

    Maybe Al Gore can fire up the jets on his private plane and melt the snow off the streets.

  78. #78
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 10:00 pm, Wellsy said:

    More proof that environmentalism is more about feeling good than producing effective results.

    And there is a far cry between “conservationism,” which most responsible Americans believe in, and “environmentalism,” which is going to continue to encroach on public policy to the detriment of the American people.

  79. #79
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 10:27 pm, Reggie Dunlop said:

    These enviro nitwits sure get salty about all this garbage…

  80. #80
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 pm, allrsn said:

    On December 23rd, 2008 at 7:46 pm, PhredE said:

    The newer road salts are much boader temp range and less corrisive than rock salt.

  81. #81
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 11:35 pm, Send_Me said:

    Are Seattle officials giving out fines to people who shovel their sidewalks and driveways with metal shovels and put down salt when they’re done?

  82. #82
    On December 23rd, 2008 at 11:57 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    And, no, there’s nothing inherently dangerous in driving on a packed surface.

    I don’t know about Michigan, but Seattle proper is built on a couple of hills. The term “skid road” came from there – the logging industry would skid them down the hill into Puget Sound. Just like your car would on a frozen packed street. :)

    Incidently, Seattlites are required by law to say to everyone “Normally it doesn’t really snow here…”

  83. #83
    On December 24th, 2008 at 12:03 am, love2rumba said:

    In truth I haven’t seen a snow fall in this region of this size since the early 1970s (like 1st -3rd grade)…it wouldn’t be a big deal if they would take care of the d#$n ice patches on the roads with ‘Salt….which I can’t purchase.

  84. #84
    On December 24th, 2008 at 12:05 am, love2rumba said:

    BTW-Stay safe during the holidays DadinSeattle…it is good to know I’m not the only conservative resident of Western Washington.

  85. #85
    On December 24th, 2008 at 12:23 am, PKAmmoTroop said:

    OOOOoooo just wait until they find out what the Sand does to their sewer system! Salt dissolves in water/slush and flows away, that’s why cities that can use it will dump it on their streets.

    Sand, on the other hand, will clog the drains causing flooded streets and clogged sewers come spring.

    Hey Seattle! I have a great idea: instead of using dangerous salt, why not use a naturally occurring, eco-friendly mineral; Sodium Chloride.

  86. #86
    On December 24th, 2008 at 1:07 am, Send_Me said:

    On December 24th, 2008 at 12:23 am, PKAmmoTroop said:
    Hey Seattle! I have a great idea: instead of using dangerous salt, why not use a naturally occurring, eco-friendly mineral; Sodium Chloride.

    It’s apparent that their ban on dihydrogen oxide is failing miserably. Just look at all the havoc it’s causing. Al Gore really needs to look into this.

  87. #87
    On December 24th, 2008 at 1:31 am, AlohaGuy said:

    Incidently, Seattlites are required by law to say to everyone “Normally it doesn’t really snow here…”

    In truth I haven’t seen a snow fall in this region of this size since the early 1970s…

    heh-heh…

  88. #88
    On December 24th, 2008 at 2:08 am, dadinseattle said:

    The local news just showed a poll; the results showed 79% thought the roads should be salted!
    Of course the 21% represents the officials, whom make these brainy decisions!

  89. #89
    On December 24th, 2008 at 2:32 am, ajmontana said:

    and the 79% voted for those brainiacs. They voted for Odopey also, he’s close by in Hawaii, maybe he can zoom over and melt the ice for them. :roll:

  90. #90
    On December 24th, 2008 at 2:45 am, love2rumba said:

    But you can’t disturb the Messiah… for he is sunning himself before he works his miracles (according to the leftwits)!

  91. #91
    On December 24th, 2008 at 2:51 am, love2rumba said:

    The local news just showed a poll; the results showed 79% thought the roads should be salted!
    Of course the 21% represents the officials, whom make these brainy decisions!

    Sorry dadinseattle the poll numbers representing “yes” to salting the roads has dropped to 73% and the ignorant “no” vote has risen to 27 % at 11:49 pm PST on that Q13 poll…the Obama voters are hard at work.

    I hope they enjoy their mechanic’s/bodyshop’s bills

  92. #92
    On December 24th, 2008 at 3:01 am, love2rumba said:

    I would expect the accident rate to decrease or eventually decrease because: 1. Most sane people probably avoid venturing out unless it’s unavoidable. 2. Many of those who do risk going out do not go fast plus some of them get stuck. 3. Darwin….

    Of course that will change when libtard busnessmen start screaming about how their income keeps going down because customers can’t reach them or how they can’t get Fed Ex to bring in stuff they need….

    Also anyone who truly has lived in the Northwest a long time would never buy a new car unless undercoat has been applied to the car’s underneath to protect it from our wet seasons, and if you are worried about salt corrosion anyway clean/wax it regularly…so salting the roads should not be an issue

  93. #93
    On December 24th, 2008 at 5:12 am, graysonret said:

    When the snow starts melting, maybe the environuts will have the government declare Seattle a wetland. No more Seattle. Anyway, the local government, voted in by the residents, feel a few fish are more important than the voters’ lives and welfare. Maybe they haven’t figured out that fish don’t vote; the ones wrecking their cars and health do.

  94. #94
    On December 24th, 2008 at 6:20 am, bilgerat said:

    So, let me get this straight…

    The environuts stopped Seattle from salting the roads yet they also hate the so called gas guzzling 4WD SUVs and trucks which are needed to be able to drive on the above mentioned unsalted roads…..

    In Mass this past weekend we got hit with two big, messy snowstorms. While my daughter and I were out Christmas shopping I asked her how many Smart cars were on the road….

    Answer: none

  95. #95
    On December 24th, 2008 at 6:31 am, bilgerat said:

    On December 23rd, 2008 at 4:43 pm, PrestoPundit – Greg Ransom said:
    People in the Pacific Northwest have never used salt on the roads because it rusts out cars.

    Have you ever heard of a “car wash”???

  96. #96
    On December 24th, 2008 at 7:04 am, Chief RZ said:

    Reminds me of a few similar persons on a certain Airport. They would rather “save” a few trees and risk the lives of hundreds and a multi=million dollar aircraft.

  97. #97
    On December 24th, 2008 at 7:15 am, FamilyMan said:

    I went Christmas shopping a few days ago in Coeur d’Alene Idaho with 27 inches of snow on the ground. You just need to slow down. What a bunch of Seattle wusses.
    GEES!

  98. #98
    On December 24th, 2008 at 7:34 am, Rob Roy said:

    So, this is all to prevent salt from getting into the Puget Sound? Anybody taste the Puget Sound lately…IT’S SALT WATER!

    And doesn’t all of this encourage the use of gas guzzling 4WDs? How about a photoshop of a Prius with a snowplow!

  99. #99
    On December 24th, 2008 at 8:32 am, bsmarj said:

    The governments 1st priorty should be the safety of the people, not the environment. When my city decides it is not politically correct to do that, I will be relentless in changing their little minds.

  100. #100
    On December 24th, 2008 at 9:42 am, NJ-Aviator said:

    For the good of the rest of the country, I think it’s time we put a fence around Seattle. We must keep the contagion from spreading.

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