Why are Baltimore taxpayers now paying $2.2 million for new speed cameras that will steal even more money from them?

The Baltimore Brew is reporting that Baltimore’s board of estimates has agreed to pay half the cost of 72 new city speed cameras. The new provider (the original cameras were faulty and sent out tickets to numerous people who did not speed) originally won the contract and said they would install the new cameras for free. Like so many projects within our bureaucracy “free” has turned into $2.2 million. The taxpayers of Baltimore must fund a system that will take more money from many of them. That sounds fun.

Joan Pratt was the only member of the board of estimates to vote against this travesty. Pratt seems to like to vote against the mayor on issues like these that will get her name into the paper.

Jack Young supplied the most ridiculous reasoning for his yes vote according to the Baltimore Brew:

“Young said he was approving the amended contract because it allowed Calmi Electrical, Inc., a minority contractor, to participate in the program.”

Rip off the taxpayers of Baltimore so some minority contractor (whose president lives in the county according to SDAT) can benefit! Wow!  Now that sounds pretty horrible and I am fully against such an action, but Young’s reported reasoning might just be a simplification of the situation…

Contribution Date	Contributor Name	Contributor Address	Contribution Type	Contribution Amount	Receiving Committee	Filing Period
11/12/2010	CALMIC ELECTRICAL COMPANY	220 N FRANDINTOWN ROAD, BALTIMORE, MD 21223-	Check	$200	Young, Bernard C. Friends Of	2010 Gubernatorial Post-General
6/30/2010	CALMIC ELECTRICAL COMPANY	220 N FRANDINTOWN ROAD, BALTIMORE, MD 21223-	Ticket Purchases Check	$250	Young, Bernard C. Friends Of	2010 Gubernatorial Pre-Primary1
6/4/2011	CALMIC ELECTRICAL COMPANY	220 N FRANDINTOWN ROAD, BALTIMORE, MD 21223-	Check	$250	Young, Bernard C. Friends Of	2011 Baltimore City Pre-Primary1
6/18/2012	CALMIC ELECTRICAL COMPANY	220 N FRANDINTOWN ROAD, BALTIMORE, MD 21223-	Check	$250	Young, Bernard C. Friends Of	2013 Annual