I was on my way to meet a friend for coffee yesterday when I spotted former legislator and once-and-future-candidate-for-stuff Ethan Berkowitz dashing across Fifth Avenue... against the signal. And I’m not talking about a flashing red hand or a yellow light, kids; this was a steady “don’t walk” red hand.
You might think to yourself, “Hey, what’s the big deal? There were no cars coming, right? And don’t you think, as an adult, he probably has the ability to judge for himself when it’s safe and appropriate to cross the street?” And to you I say: The law is black and white. There is no gray area when it comes to pedestrian ethics! What’s right is right! What’s wrong is wrong! I don’t care if no one got hurt; just imagine what could have happened! One law is the same as another, and clearly Ethan Berkowitz has no respect for the law!
Someone out there needs to file this away for debate season... Unless, of course, you think maybe that kind of rhetoric might make you sound a teeny tiny bit hysterical and result in some erosion of your credibility...
On the other hand, if Ethan really is running for governor, maybe he can spin this slow-simmering right-of-way scandal to his advantage. After all, it’s hard to make the argument that a known jaywalker is really a proponent of a nanny state.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
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7 smart remarks:
Scofflaw! But seriously, just as cars can "turn right on red" if the way is safe and clear, so should pedestrians be able to cross the street in similar circumstances because after all the overriding accepted law is always "pedestrians have the right of way". Besides, police almost never write tickets for jaywalking. They have more important things to do.
Having said that, personal safety almost always informs me to wait for a walk signal. Anchorage drivers are Deathrace 2000 bat-sh*t crazy, many swerving or racing towards pedestrians and bicyclists as if they're going to score points if they get 'em.
Oh and I know you were being sarcastic. You may un-plant your tongue from your cheek now. ;)
-Laz
Well, I don't know who you saw, but it wasn't me . . . never made it downtown yesterday. Mowed the lawn and played ball with the kids. But good luck finding the impersonator! And you're right on about red lights.
Ethan Berkowitz
It was Friday... I totally promise it was you. In front of City Hall. Unless you have an EXACT doppelganger running around town...
Well whomever it was let's just hope he doesn't tweet that he was "progressing the walk/don't walk signal for the benefit of all Anchoragites and Alaskans..." ;)
-Laz
After clarifying the exact time and location via e-mail, Ethan has conceded that there's a distinct possibility that it was, in fact, him. (Read: It totally was.) Also, he says I have gotten him in trouble with his mother.
Very disappointing Mr. Berkowitz... just wait till your wife gets home and hears about this...
It it possible to file an ethics complaint against a candidate-for-governor? lol
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