No cones for the common man.
Bureaucratese seems to say, “Follow our rules even if you can’t figure them out.” That’s the kind of letter Lone Pine Chamber Director Kathleen New said she received after Caltrans rejected this year’s application for a permit submitted November 2nd to conduct Lone Pine’s Christmas Parade December 8th. Caltrans rejected it without much explanation.
Then on November 19th, they sent a bureaucratic letter with a list of complex requirements that left Ms. New in angry confusion about how to create a “Traffic Handling Plan” approved by a Civil Engineer, a plan, said Caltrans’ letter that “must adhere to the 2010 California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.”
She had to get permission from Inyo County, and proof that the person implementing the Traffic Handling Plan detour has a “California C31-Construction Zone Traffic Control license or greater.” What does that mean, Ms. New wanted to know?
Finally, she could not use Caltrans signs, cones or barricades that she had always used for the past 20 years. Ms. New said all the mystifying requirements made her cry. She said in all past years, she would get Caltrans cones and barricades for the detour and CHP would direct traffic. She sent in a hand-drawn map of the route and detour and that was the end of it. Permit granted.
This time, distraught that time was so short before the December 8 parade, Ms. New started calling Caltrans. She said no one returned her call for a week. That’s when she called Sierra Wave Media.
On Tuesday, Terry Erlwein, Caltrans traffic engineer and Kurt Weiermann of the permits department talked to us and said they could work with Ms. New and put together a plan for her. The offer of help came too late. Ms. New had already called community groups to cancel the parade in the face of a rejected permit.
Why all the bureaucratic requirements for town parades that used to go ahead smoothly and practically? Erlwein said Caltrans is under increasing scrutiny and criticism and they have to follow policies to the letter. She said, “Investigations are going on all over the place.” For small town parades? Well, maybe not those. Erlwein and others did try this week to find a resolution to the Lone Pine situation.
Communities and their parades have found out that they can no longer use Caltrans cones or barricades. They are public property so why not? Erlwein said Caltrans can’t show favorites. It’s state policy.
Kurt Weierman took responsibility for the situation. He sent the icy, bureaucratic letter to the Lone Pine Chamber and said he was following policy. He said he’s being called the Grinch around the office.
He’s being called other things in Lone Pine. Said Kathleen New, “We’re not dealing with the Rose Parade here. It’s a little parade. I’m really upset.”
Other towns have faced the same, newly enforced bureaucracy – the Bishop Chamber of Commerce which has filed an application for a Christmas Parade, Bridgeport and Independence have or will deal with the tightened up bureaucracy.
Kathleen New said she received the letter from Weiermann November 20th. She started calling for help the next day and said no one returned her call or helped her for an entire week. Time was running out, so she cancelled the parade. Ms. New said, “They could’ve written a letter in July about the new requirements. Caring about the communities where you live doesn’t require brain surgery.” Of Caltrans, she said, “They don’t care.”
A smaller parade on Locust Street in Lone Pine will happen Saturday at 4:30pm. Proceeds will help the family who lost their home by fire this week. At last word, the major, Main St. parade will not happen.
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All of these of these governmental agencies have a way making it difficult for anything that names or pertains to Christmas. Screw CalTrans and do it anyway. It’s your town.
Sorry Chuck it doesn’t work that way. As much as we would want to just do it, it just doesn’t work so easily. But thanks for the sentiment .. Merry Christmas to you too.
All of the years that things have been allowed to happen, times are new, and law suits are the name of the game, it is so easy now days to be sued by anyone over anything, anytime!
But I think if we give it some work and cooperation it will all work out, this is as I have said before, a learning curve for everyone, for the towns and cities, for the state, for the govt. agencies. We can make it happen again, just have to work together on it.
You’re right Al…what was acceptable in the past is a big no-no today, due to political -correctness AND California being the lawsuit capitol of the free world. BUT…there’s the old adage, Spirit of the Law vs. the Letter of the Law, which I know you are very familiar with. Sometimes, rules and regulations can be bent, without being broken. just sayin’.
japan just invented something thats gonna put 4 out of 5 caltrans workers out of a job,its a shovel that stands by itself
Too late Ferd … they have shirts with the pockets upside down .. fit the shovel handle inside .. hands free for coffee and a donut .. gotta get up earlier than that in the morning .. to read the news. Funny though.
This is comedy…..the comment is “the docs written by District 6 still need to be made available to the public.” Then there is a website posted that leads to all the environmental documents ironically “available to the public” via a PDF…..wow, this person is CRAZY and silly! All this effort seems to come from an individual who needs to find a job.
As a resident of Independence these are lies US 395 wasn’t closed in Independence at anytime.
Who is “caltranssite.com?” This person sounds like a “certifiable” loon.
I read somewhere else that Caltrans was trying to help fix this mess they created. Otherwise Santa has promised to bend the rest of their stakes.
Again .. I could list all of the nonfactual statements here, but i think people got the idea with my reply to your previous letter in regard to giving advise to Ms. New.
You need to clarify your claims and accusations. I suggest being more clearer and truthful.
Sounds like a person who works the system for personal gain indirectly through others by getting them to file law suits, someone who is really good at suing Caltrans and winning .. but doesn’t seem to know what they are talking about .. a lot of hot air.
!. No one will get damages for a parade being denied, especially in this case.
2. Waht appeal are you suggesting this person file? be more specific, with a form number, grounds for for appeal. Your urgings are too vage.
3. Tell how it is that Caltrans’ headquarters will have to travel here to hear the dispute, as required by law.
4. They will have to travel for 3 days .. from Sacramento? One day travel, where do you figure you get the two extra days to travel here.
5. The original letter explaining the official reason for rejection did include “official”. explanation. It is all available from the Federal govt. as well as the State of California, and all other municipalities. Outlined in the Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
This is the federal guide lines that all entities that do any traffic control on any public roadway have to follow. So .. the letter outlined it.
6. Who are the cowardly supervisors that approved during what illegally closed road … again very vague and a poor attempt at inciting people.
7. What approval, what session, please explain more clearly.
8. I think …. if I know what you are referring too as vague as it is .. it is the new four lane improvements Caltrans did in Independence. Please explain how this was illegal, please explain how businesses lost money or business during that time. As far as I can remember of that project, businesses were open, and were not restricted in regard to their access.
In fact, Caltrans had placed .. signs indicating … “Businesses open during construction, I saw them, I know other people saw them too.
9. Please expand on the EA/FONSI (Environmental Assessment) Do you even know what FONSI is? And tell them, that this is only an assessment, that states nothing about what you have implied here with regard to how the contractor has to notify businesses during Staged construction.
10. And how is all of this dishonesty, and why should the county not deserve tax dollars because of a construction project.
As a taxpaying motorist I view the use of Caltrans cones for a parade as inappropriate. My taxes are paid to improve and maintain the roads. If Caltrans has extra resources to be used for parades, then they should be cut by that amount because they don’t need it. Wasting taxpayers dollars is inappropriate, no matter how small the expense everyone might feel. If Caltrans is willing to help prepare the traffic handling plan for the parade, then the next time I have a project that requires a traffic handling plan, I expect Caltrans to do for me too.
besides they have better things to do…Or do they?
LOL
GGW
…Yeah,better things to do…The coffee is getting cold at Lee’s Frontier.
The reason Caltrans loaned cones to the Lone Pine parade was not that they have an abundance of resources. The reason they could afford to loan the cones out was because the parade was on a weekend when they were not using them. The loaning of cones and barricades is the least they could do. I remember the day when Caltrans personnel actually provided the resources and the man power to set up and man the detour.
Greg,
The community of Lone Pine pay taxes too, and so do I. If CalTrans wants to use my tax money to help out with community events it’s OK with me. Like you, I am only one single tax payer.
….Thanks Cal-Trans…….
I say thanks too Wayne, to Caltrans, they do a lot for us on a daily basis, and get hammered pretty regularly.
I got a good Cal-Trans story to tell….a few years ago,coming back from Bishop,there were some cars lined up along the road,with people chasing after a little dog that had gotten away and was running along the shoulder.Just after I pulled over and wanting to help,a Cal-Trans truck came screatching to a halt a few car lengths ahead,the driver turned on his flashing lights,got out and started yelling at the people along the roadside trying to help,telling them to move on….nobody listened….and kept right on trying to help catch the little dog.
Yeah that’s a good story Wayne.
Lesson to the story….CalTrans IS NOT Law Enforcement…..even though,at times…at least in my little town,they might think they are.
No one ever said they were law enforcement Wayne lol .. some of those people think they are, but when it comes to the highway, they are the authority of what you can and can not do, even the CHP does not have complete authority over Caltrans in regard to highways.
In response to Big Al’s last comment…On the day of the “doggie chase” I mentioned earlier,they sure weren’t the “authority of the highways” that day….trying to tell people what they can and can not do. Didn’t work out too well that day.In that sort of instance,little CalTrans can do besides call Law Enforcement and report what is going on…they can’t detain,or make an arrest…or threaten to make an arrest…or be trying to tell people what and what not to do…
You have it figured out Wayne .. so that means the phone company doesn’t really have any authority over people when it comes to their installations and equipment?
Big Al….One last response…..You seem to use the word “authority” a lot…When I think about it much,in reference to your LAST statement…No…the phone company has no authority what-so-ever over me…..unless I don’t pay my bill and they shut me off…Same with Cal Trans,regarding the “doggie chase”…If I choose to pull over and help catch a runaway dog,it ain’t going to be a CalTrans employee telling me to get back in my truck and move on.
OK Wayne one more response too … I was only referring to your use of the word Authority in your posts. I think the phone company does have authority over you in more ways than you think when it comes to their property and such.
Yes you’re right, if you choose to pull over and help someone, right on .. it sounds like that guy was being an ass, but if more of the story were known about the incident, maybe it was that .. people were in the road .. maybe, after this dog to catch it? Doesn’t he have the obligation to get people cleared out of the road? Maybe not the “authority”, but obligation to get people out of the road and try to alleviate the probability of an accident?
Just saying, there might be more to the story than what you’re presenting here, that it just seems to gripe about the department.
What if he just drove on by while everyone .. who might have been in and around the road and the dog running in and across the road. And right after he did .. the rescue mission either directly or indirectly caused an accident?
Then someone would be griping about how he didn’t do his job. I’m Not defending him for being an ass about it, if in fact he was, but oh well .. I think they do a lot for us, as I said earlier, and all people seem to do is bitch em for it.
I’m thankful they try to make safe and expeditious travel for us.
Come on Caltrans- some rules are made to be broken.
Trouble … hehe trouble maker LOL .. well that is just the thing .. rules were ignored to give support in things, times have changed, and the law suits are bearing their ugly teeth in everything.
This all will work out, everyone will have to be on the same page once more, as once were in regard to these community events and projects.
This is a very painful learning curve!
You know, it is not that Caltrans does not care as this article goes out of it’s way to insinuate. As I said in a previous article about road side advertisements. There are new people involved in the process, it used to be you could go to Caltrans and get just about anything you want to help with these community activities. Even more in the past they would have people help with it as well.
These times now have just changed, and with new people trying to do their job as know it to be with regulations and all governing how they respond to such activates, it is perceived that they do not care, as stated in the article.
These people are not the uncaring bureaucrats that the article states. It is kind of funny though that the bias present seems to be contradicted at times throughout the article, but then goes back to pointing out how much that department doesn’t care with the last sentence.
This all could have been worked out, and most likely would have. It is very unfortunate how it all transpired, seems like there was confusion, misunderstanding, and frustration, failure to communicate.
This agency is just like the others, there are things they can no longer do .. and things they need to handle differently, but it can all be worked out.
As one poster posted … they, like the Forest Service, have regulations they don’t understand. I can see this, it is occurring in a lot of places now, things are not so free as they once were, with all of the budget crap going on, it is no wonder this happened.
The people in these agencies care about the community in times like this .. it is how I see it .. we might have our feelings for them and tend to treat them all as bureaucrats, myself included, but they are people just the same, and some do care very much for the community.
I hope Kathleen feels better about this, it can be mended .. they want to help .. Terry Erlwein is just one who is very good about working with people and helping make things happen. Some things need to be learned .. for those new to it.
Benett, honestly .. I see a good amount of bias in this article for Caltrans, I have seen it in others such as with the DWP. I don’t agree with what DWP does with our water, not at all! But the people who work for the department for the most part care about the community, after all they live here. They do a lot for the community. I know I have come to see my bias with some of these departments and am working on seeing them for what they are and who they are. I think we should see some changes in reporting with less bias and more understanding. Just some thoughts, I’m not trying to beat you up on this, but pointing out what I see.
Not sure what you think the bias is. I look for the best truth I can find about what agencies do. It’s not about personal attacks on the individuals who work there unless
they have done something that needs to be brought to light. I quote people who have experiences with bureaucracies and the bureaucrats themselves. In this case, it was Kathleen New who was quite upset and said she feels Caltrans does not care about the communities. She is not the first local individual to have made this statement to me. Big Al, sometimes the truth is just not pleasant and you shouldn’t take it personally. A news reporter’s job is to tell the truth, unpleasant though it may be.
I gave this story a couple of days before writing it and even asked both Caltrans and Kathleen New if they couldn’t work it out. In fact, it was me who brought them together over the phone after Kathleen had waited for a returned call for a week. When it became obvious they couldn’t make the parade work, I wrote the story. People have a right to know that their bureaucracies are growing more restrictive and impersonal. People do have choices – whether to call someone and say, “Our regulations
are getting tighter. Can I help you get through this.” Instead of defending bureaucracies, why not help them find ways to help others.
Benett Kessler
I’m not sure what the bias is? .. it is clearly there .. words like bureaucracies, bureaucrats … Bureaucratese seems to say, “Follow our rules even if you can’t figure them out.”
Caring about the communities where you live doesn’t require brain surgery.” Of Caltrans, she said, “They don’t care.” Tell me how this isn’t an affront to the people who work there?
He’s being called other things in Lone Pine. Said Kathleen New,
Yes I can imagine he’s been called other things, and especially when an article is written so heavy against the department and the “bureaucrats” or the people, such as the article preceding this blog. So you don’t see see that such things reported and written don’t seem biased?
Personal? Yes I do take it personal when I see bias, who wouldn’t unless they are the one being bias, or others who feel the same way.
Caltrans, and other agencies for years have contributed to the community events. It is not that the departments don’t care about the community in whole, it is the people care about their community.
In the past, support was given freely, even though policies and guide lines prohibited such support. The red tape was ignored, and support was given freely, because this is their community, their towns as well.
The whole time this was going on .. behind the scenes was the threat of law suits, they were the hidden bear traps, waiting for someone to step on them and bring everything crashing down. It never happened, thankfully. But it was the risk, just the same, for people and organizations, and govt. entities … that they could have to fight and or loose a law suit.
People do not realize too .. that even an individual volunteering for such a project is liable in the event that something happens while they are volunteering. They assume responsibility either in part or wholly.
I say this, because now days, there are those who look for every possible way to sue. To sue for damages, you name it. Sue you, sue me …. sue the city, sue Kathleen New, sue Caltrans, sue the CHP, sue DWP, sue the county, sue the manufacturer of the traffic signs, sue the person who wrote up the traffic control design for the parade.
Sue sue sue! Shot gun the law suits out there, try to find every little niche to exploit! This … is what has changed why departments are not wanting to treat it as it was always done.
It is not that the “people do not care” … it is because times have changed to the point that you have to do everything right, and adhere to manual on things. If you do everything right, you are not a target. Just one “t” not crossed or one “i” not dotted can make the difference of losing a court battle, and believe me! .. It can happen!
Gee, Big Al, we didn’t mean to upset you so much. But, then, we never aim to upset anyone. Sometimes quoting people and telling what happens upsets some. Such is life. It’s best to tell what people are saying and doing rather than cover it up and hope for the best. When bureaucrats, er-uh, employees of the government, cause members of the public grief, they very well may want to know about it so they can serve their public better. News reporting is not about being nice and making people feel nice – although sometimes it is – but about reflecting to the public what happens in their lives. Then you can make informed decisions about how to live, how to vote, how to relate to one another. It can be a messy process. Our founding fathers knew about messy processes and how important it is to be able to observe and tell what you know.
Benett Kessler
No Benett I am not upset lol .. just pointing some things out as how I see it .. don’t take it personal now LOL. It will work out.
Do you have work for me there .. I can write good stories!
You’re too biased.
BK
Except I need a real good proof reader, I think?
I think Big Al is just miffed that his man didn’t get elected in the General Election (Lot’s of them out there).
Come on, Big Al. Live with it.
You can be bigger than that.
I appreciate that you say you tried to help mediate things, that’s cool. But one comment eluding to names they are calling Mr. Weireman only served to fan the flames from how I see it .. what was your intention for including that comment from the caller?
And so far .. most of the sentiment in the story is weighted on the side of the person making the call to you. Even your reply to me .. is seeming that you do not see the bias. I have said before I feel you are bias on things, and a lot of others say the same thing. In your own words .. sometimes the truth is not pleasant, I agree Benett. What is just as unpleasant is not getting the whole story, that means both sides being fairly reported on.
I have heard some things about this whole mess that didn’t make it into the story. That was not told, whether you knew it or not, and I am betting you didn’t know .. that could explain some story in a different light. And it most likely will not be known here, and that is OK .. because it doesn’t want to be told.
One other good pint I will make and I will close the matter from my point of view:
With an article such as this, there never seems to be anything positive to say about the parties in question, is all only bad. Once in a great while, something is said, that could be positive, some was in this article, but it is drowned out with the negative sentiment.
So yes I do still see it as bias, hopefully all of this will bring something better out of it. Maybe a follow up story about how .. both sides are trying to work it out for next years parade, so hopefully it doesn’t get rained on as well.
Oh, Big Al. In a past post you said you don’t like me. Your bias is showing!
Benett Kessler
Big sounds like a person with Right-wing tendencies
Right Wing Authoritarian Tendencies:
Faulty reasoning
Right wing authoritarian conservatives are more likely to:
•Make many incorrect inferences from evidence.
•Hold contradictory ideas leading them to `speak out of both sides of their mouths.’
•Uncritically accept that many problems are `our most serious problem.’
•Uncritically accept insufficient evidence that supports their beliefs.
•Uncritically trust people who tell them what they want to hear.
•Use many double standards in their thinking and judgements.
Profound Character Flaws
Right wing authoritarian conservatives are more likely to:
•Be dogmatic.
•Be zealots.
•Be hypocrites.
•Be bullies when they have power over others.
•Help cause and inflame intergroup conflict.
•Seek dominance over others by being competitive and destructive in situations requiring cooperation
Blindness To Own Failings
Right wing authoritarian conservatives are more likely to: •Believe they have no personal failings.
•Avoid learning about their personal failings.
•Be highly self-righteous.
•Use religion to erase guilt over their acts and to maintain their self-righteousness.
Wait .. where did I say that? really? … that I don’t like you? hmmmm .. so does that mean you won’t give me my own byline?
“The truth according to Big AL or how you have been told.” hehe
Guess not … darn, I think it would be fun.
Big Al, so far you don’t understand news, so byline is out of the question. Although you get a fair amount
of them on this blog.
BK
Awwe Dr. Facts are you talking about yourself there or me? Or are you trying to flatter me?
OHHH now I remember, yes .. I said that I didn’t have much respect for you, or something like that, in how I see how you have not been very impartial on things …
awwe but Benett, I didn’t say I didn’t like you. That isn’t personal since it is referring to your journalism.
One thing I do respect, is the fact that you post pretty much everything people say against you, if you were totally bias .. you would be hitting the dump button all negative vibes. So there’s hope. hehe
How about that byline?
Well I appreciate you letting me down easy Benett, Yeah I don’t think I would make it in the news business, you’re right.
Big Al, you are fun. Thanks for blogging.
Benett
the closest parallel street is the L.A. aquaduct
a water parade. good idea
You will not find the truth at caltransite.com it is a biased slanderous compilation of accusations. The first line you read is about someone being a certain person being a thieving bitch .. and something alluding to certain sexual activities. How can that be anything believable with such coarse language.
It seems one persons rants on loss of property. It would support if it wasn’t a load of trash, if it was written in a concise clean manner.
Oh wow, what a slanderous, rambling, diatribe of non-sense. This website looks and feels like something a non-local created because of some issues with a project in Independence? Wow, all this fancy website material over a “wooden fence for $7,500?”
And further reading of all these attachments says its a “Sean McClellan” wasn’t this the individual who rented out that dumpy motel at the south end of town to Granite Construction for ~$5,000/month that Granite used as their office?
Then once the Independence project was complete he sold the property? So this person made $5,000/month for 24 months which equals $120,000 plus the $7,500 for a “wooden fence.” This guy who doesn’t even live in Inyo County made well over $100K off the back of California taxpayers to turn around and do this…..this guy must be crazy.
No not crazy .. just an opportunist, who works the system .. who ever it is.
Seriously? This is an issue? Good lord people, if you hyperventilate over this, I pity you when you get a load of ObamaCare rules.
That’s a stretch. Tying your outrage that millions of people will be able to get health care who otherwise wouldn’t without Obamacare to a road closing in Lone Pine.
The mind is a dark and mysterious place…
As usual you have misunderstood me, deliberately I hope, because otherwise there may not be enough solar panels in the state to illuminate your thought.
Ken that is just the norm here .. I have come to see.
Not that I don’t fault Caltrans for this mess, but I wonder why the parade wasn’t just switched to one of the streets that runs parallel to the highway? Would that not have been a better solution then to just cancel it?
welcome to the world of Cal Trans and the Forest Service. They both have rules that they don’t even understand.
bah,humbug,caltrans,shame on you
“Your tax dollars at work”