http://www.stopbigbrothermd.org/2011/02/speed-camera-contractor-created.html

Monday, February 7, 2011
Speed Camera Contractor Linked To Baltimore County Pro Speed Camera Group 
 
One Big Happy Family
A lobbying firm hired by Baltimore County's speed camera contractor has been linked http://timonium.patch.com/articles/speed-camera-support-grassroots-or-astroturf#c to the creation of a website supporting the expansion of speed cameras in Baltimore County according to an article in Patch.com.  Web page and Facebook group 'Slow Down for Baltimore County Schools' was created in January supporting the proposed Baltimore County legislation which would expand the county's current program of 15 camera sites to an unlimited number of sites.  The site was supposedly created by Sarah Dennis, a Baltimore County school teacher.  However it was revealed that the firm Kearney O'Doherty (KO) Public Affairs, the politically connected strategy firm hired by ACS State and Local Solutions, helped the group create their webpage 'slowdownbaltimorecounty.com' and drive 'likes' to their Facebook group.

According to the article "Damian O’Doherty, a KO Public Affairs partner and former county government official, told Patch http://patch.com/A-cTs1 in December that his political strategy firm has been working with ACS and a coalition of “educators, parents and elected officials to bring (speed cameras) to Maryland."  When asked the firm did not respond to requests for details about its efforts to support the Baltimore County group.

Dennis told Patch that her neighbor, Howard Libit, set up the slowdownbaltimorecounty.com website.  Libit is chief operating officer of Kearney O'Doherty Public Affairs.  The web page contains a button which allows users to send emails to Baltimore County Council Members.  O'Doherty is listed as one of the 'like's on the Facebook group, but there is no other disclosure of the firm's involvement in the creation of the web page.

In addition, many area residents have been receiving emails directing them to the web page.  Kevin Dunne, a resident of WestTowson, told Patch that he received a Jan 21 email message seeking support for speed cameras and encourages them to use the web page's email link.  Dunne said he never requested to be on the email list.  Another area resident, who also opposes speed cameras, had emailed stopbigbrothermd.org on Jan 29 to make a similar complaint about receiving an email from the group.

The email was addressed from ' This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. '.  However Sarah Dennis claimed she did not send the email to Dunne and was never given an email distribution list to use, and could not say if Kearney O'Doherty Public Affairs had developed one.

ACS is the contractor for Baltimore County's speed camera program.  Under the current arrangement ACS was paid $949,582 of the $1.16million of the fines collected so far.  ACS has a history of aggressive lobbying tactics http://www.stopbigbrothermd.org/2009/02/speed-cameras-attract-lobbyists-in.html, including spending hundreds of thousands on lobbyists and campaign contributions prior to the passage of statewide speed cameras, buying steak dinners for state lawmakers http://www.stopbigbrothermd.org/2008/06/acs-wining-and-dining-state.html, and running a massive PR and media campaign in Montgomery County documented in that county's speed camera contract with ACS http://www.stopbigbrothermd.org/2010/08/montgomery-county-scamera-contract.html.  A poll was released in 2010 which claimed overwhelming public support for speed cameras in Maryland.  That poll was in fact conducted by ACS's marketing firm, Kearney O'Doherty Public Affairs.

The County already voted to renew its existing contract with ACS without a bid.  http://timonium.patch.com/articles/county-extends-speed-camera-contract-without-bid  The Baltimore County Council is preparing to vote to increase the current 15 sites to an unlimited number at their February 7th meeting.  The county recently released a report which showed that there had been no reduction in accidents at their existing speed camera sites http://www.stopbigbrothermd.org/2011/01/baltimore-county-speed-camera-report.html, running

You can contact the council members using their contact information on the county web site http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/countycouncil/index.html or click this link This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text52447 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to open an email window.

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