www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog -> www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog/
Wednesday, June 14, 2006 Might be no way out of this traffic jam Driving through the relentless crush of Los Angeles traffic, it hits me like a bolt from the blue: There may be no way out of this. The slow smothering of large cities coast-to-coast by rising oceans of commuters. I live in the Washington, DC, area, so the idea of a 10-mile trip taking an hour is not foreign, but after a look at what California is facing, I am left wondering about the future. Traffic experts say, basically, everything we have done to ease traffic problems has largely failed. We've added lanes to busy highways, only to find that businesses and neighborhoods expand right alongside them, devouring the new capacity. We've added carpool lanes to encourage conservation, only to find that the added speed of these lanes lets people move further from the city center, promoting sprawl. We've talked about adding more public transit, but the amount required to make a substantial difference is enormous. In Los Angeles, 48 million trips are made every day, but less than one million of them are on public transit. The Southern California Association of Governments has a three-pronged plan to address traffic congestion: 1 Push to build more communities with jobs, homes, shopping and recreation all within a relatively small area. The association says 50 percent of the region's congestion could be eliminated if drivers just learned to avoid accidents, breakdowns, and other bad maneuvers that create traffic jams. But it's going to require basic changes in how we live, changes that so far we have not warmed to despite $3 gallons of gasoline and traffic delays that are, on average, eating 47 hours of an urban commuter's life every year. The question is: Are we ready, willing, or even able to make enough changes to make a difference?
Add a Comment Tuesday, June 13, 2006 The other side of high-speed police chases We've all seen police chases on television. They're fast, and lots of folks would tell you they're fun to watch. But the fun ends when you meet a family that's been affected by a police chase in the worst of ways. The Priano family of Chico, California, lost their only daughter, a 15-year-old girl they called "the sparkplug of the family," during a police chase four years ago. I spent time with them recently at their home to see how that moment changed their lives. Here's the background: 15-year-old Kristia Priano was on the way to a basketball game at her school. She was in the family van with her parents and her brother. Another 15-year-old girl had just stolen her mother's car across town and was out for a joyride. But for some reason, the girl suddenly floored it and smashed into the Priano's van at an intersection. Here's what Kristie's mom, Candy Priano, told me she remembers about the moment right after the accident: "She always was so talkative. I mean, if she had been alright, I know she would have said something. So, in my heart of hearts I knew that something was really bad." And that other girl, the driver on the joyride, well, she left the accident scene uninjured. Here's the question the Priano's have been asking for 4 years: If the suspect in this case was not a murderer, not even a dangerous felon, why were police chasing her? She was a high school student who took the family car out for a joyride. "Yes, because it fits the policy, because it's more than just a vehicle infraction," says Chico Police Chief Bruce Hagerty, who wasn't with the department at the time of the accident. "The trouble with pursuits is there is always a possibility that even if the officers do everything 100 percent the way they are trained to do that the pursuit will still end in a tragedy." Hundreds of innocent people like Kristie Priano die each year as a result of police chases. You'd think law enforcement would have found a safer means to snare a suspect. But some experts we spoke with say there are a lot of police departments out there that will "chase until the wheels fall off." The Priano's have been working for four years to pass "Kristie's Law" in California. It would restrict police chases to violent felons posing an immediate threat and make it a felony to flee from police. Kristie's mom told me something her daughter said to her a few days before she died. "Oh, if I were to die, I'd be okay, because I know in that instant I would be with Jesus," she says Kristy told her. Candy's reply: "Oh, well, Jesus isn't gonna have you die, because he knows I couldn't live without you."
Tonight and tomorrow night, we will broadcast from Los Angeles. Then we'll take the show to San Francisco and Seattle for broadcasts on Thursday and Friday. There's a lot of news to cover tonight -- President Bush visiting Iraq, Karl Rove breathing a bit easier, Tropical Storm Alberto moving through Florida. We also have a number of interesting stories out of California, including the debate over a national park that one Republican Congressman wants to use as a hunting ground for disabled vets. We are planning some other trips for "360DEG" this summer and have been discussing a handful of possible destinations. I'd be interested in hearing any suggestions from you about places you think we should go.
I've done a number of book signings across the country in recent days and the response has been really amazing. Last week, the book went to number one on The New York Times bestseller list, which was remarkable, and I just wanted to say thank you.
Add a Comment Poll: Slight bounce in US opinion on Iraq There were two dramatic events in Iraq in recent weeks. First came allegations that US marines may have killed innocent Iraqi civilians in Haditha. Then came the elimination of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of al Qaeda in Iraq. So how do Americans think things are going for the United States in Iraq? But most Americans, 54 percent, continue to believe the war is not going well. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, "The incidents dishonor the uniform and bring great pressure to bear on our mission in Iraq." The public is inclined to believe that US troops have crossed the line at times. Fifty-seven percent of Americans think it's likely that US troops have committed war crimes in Iraq, compared with 37 percent who think it's not likely. Some observers see recent developments in Iraq as a strong argument for the US to begin withdrawing its forces. In March, most Americans wanted US forces to withdraw from Iraq within the next year. Now, the pressure to withdraw has diminished, at least a bit. Forty-seven percent favor withdrawal within a year, while 48 percent believe US forces should stay as long as necessary. Despite recent events, Americans have not changed their minds as to whether the United States should have invaded Iraq in the first place. Two months ago, 55 percent of Americans said it was a mistake for the US to send troops to Iraq. Americans certainly see the elimination of Zarqawi as a positive development.
Add a Comment Monday, June 12, 2006 Taking a bullet for the politicians Security contractors in Iraq are a private bunch. They don't like media attention and they don't open their doors to many outsiders. But after a lot of talking and explaining, we were recently able to get an inside look at some security contractors in Iraq. There are roughly 25,000 security contractors in the country. They spend much of their time providing security for the convoys that bring in raw materials and daily necessities for military bases around the country. The 130,000 troops in Iraq need places to eat, to land aircraft and helicopters, and to sleep. Most of the materials for these activities need to be brought into Iraq. Supply convoys often drive up from Kuwait, through areas that are very hostile to the United States, especially as the convoys near Baghdad. The contractors get the job of maintaining security for on these journeys. In the past, the army would have provided its own supplies along with the security for them. The use of private contractors is part of a gradual trend that has been developing over the past 30 or 40 years. You could even argue this trend has been developing over the past 100 or 15...
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