Better Ideas

[ashnistrike]

As I get older, I've learned to appreciate people who actively work on their shit--as opposed to ignoring potential problems and pretending everything is just fine.

The extremely diverse DC suburb where I live is planning a series of community discussions about whether we have any cop-civilian tension, and what to do about it if so.  I haven't noticed any, but I'm female and pretty white-looking--I plan to sit in the back of the room and listen.

Apparently our police department did receive a humvee through that horrible military-surplus-for-police program.  The city council had just said no to a bunch of things that cost money, and felt like "free equipment" was an easy thing to say yes to.  We use the humvee for snow removal, so we don't just want to get rid of it.

One of the proposals on the table, therefore, is to repaint the humvee as an art car in order to reduce the potential for testosterone poisoning.  This, explained the neighbor who's planning to host one of the discussions, would "better reflect community values."

Which is true.  I do love this town.  It's far from perfect, but it's actively working on its shit.

Comments

[erik]

10 years from now when that artcar Humvee is being used for riot suppression, the photos will make your community Internet Famous.

[page-of-swords.livejournal.com]

Actually a Humvee with the Diesel Engine and the geared hubs would make a great Plow Truck. As long as you don't have to pay the initial cost.

Which also means making it an art car takes away from the utility of it.

[tricksterquinn.livejournal.com]

Weirdly, considering the discussion of making this an art car and the mural someone I knew did on a restaurant downtown, I don't actually know any Burners who live in your particular suburb.

Which frankly seems deeply unlikely.

[robling-t.livejournal.com]

Donovan says "Barbie Pink and glitter!!" But then you could probably have predicted that. :)