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Monday, February 08, 2010

Does PG County government speak with forked tongue?

On Friday, February 5, County Executive Johnson declared a state of emergency, see the county's Press Update e-mailed at 3:07 pm on February 6 (but not posted on the county's press release page).
... Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson declared a State-of-Emergency, which went into effect yesterday.  In a State-of-Emergency delcaration, motorists should not drive or park on snow emergency routes or they are subject to a ticket and fine....
 Also the relevant Washington Post report.

On Sunday, February 7, the Gazette reported that a county spokesperson
"discouraged residents from driving until local states of emergency are lifted. She added that as plow drivers continue to work, the mere presence of motorists on roads can make their jobs more difficult.

"People were still out and they were still driving [Saturday], and trucks can't maneuver around the people," Hubbard said. "There's no reason that anybody should be going anywhere." ...
The county web site has no indication that the state of emergency has been lifted.   Although I regularly receive e-mails with county press releases (as above), I have not received any e-mail from the county saying the state of emergency has been lifted.  A search of Google news brings up various reports of the state of emergency, but no report that it has ended.

Nevertheless, the county government announced on Sunday, February 7, that
"The Prince George’s County government will be open Monday, February 8, 2010.  Liberal leave policies are in effect except for essential personnel.  All essential personnel to report to work at the normal time."
So, the county government is open, at least some people are required to show up for work, but at the same time, the county does not want people out on the roads and driving.

Do as I say, not as I do???

2 comments:

  1. They don't close the government so they don't have to pay holiday/OT pay to Police/Fire/other unionized essential personnel on their regular shifts. It's duplicitous but saves money.

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  2. I don't believe they pay OT anymore. Emergency personnel get comp time instead of OT if they close the county.

    Why on earth was PG the ONLY county open on Monday???? The road in surrounding counties were pretty clear yet when you cross the line into PG the roads were pathetic. I shouldn't be surprised.

    ReplyDelete