Early Arguments, Self-Serve Gasoline

I've been watching the arguments related to self-serve gasoline unfold across various venues in Arlington.

So far this is how the argument seems to be taking shape:

One, the change from full-serve to self-serve will not result in any cheaper gasoline in Arlington.

Our prices are already as low as in neighboring communities that allow self-serve.

Two, there is concern from the disabled community, as well as anyone with lower than typical mobility, about losing the full-service norm in Arlington.

It has been pointed out that the ADA requires that full service be provided to those that need it, but there are exceptions; for example, when only one attendant is on duty, this obligation does not have to be met.

It is also in my mind a bit disingenuous to claim that full service won't be prohibited, and therefore not impacted.

It won't be prohibited, but I can't imagine it not being impacted.

I imagine full service will exist at the same level as other places that do not prohibit self service.

Pull up to get gas in a community that has self-service, and wait for full-service. Compare that to getting full service in Arlington.

Finally, it has been said that the station owners have not asked for this change, and in the past have opposed them.

Self-service stations require additional improvements, such as overhead fire suppression devices, that are costly.

Also, Arlington becomes more attractive to the dominant players in this marketplace, that favor a "convenience-store" model, which it is feared may put our small operators out of business.

The current model in Arlington is one of a full-service station, that makes additional money not by having a small convenience store, but by doing automotive repair and inspection work.

On the other hand, a lot of people really want to be able to pump their own gas, and believe they could get in and out faster if they were allowed to do so.

Those that feel strongly that self-service should be allowed so far seem to feel that full-service will not be impacted for those that desire it.

That does not seem likely to me. At this point - and there'll be a lot more arguments presented before this is through - I would say we should just leave things the way they are now.

However the real question for me right now is not whether the arguments are better on one side or another.

The real question is whether hearing these arguments, residents feel that having self-service is important enough we should move forward and make this change, or not.

I hope to figure out the answer to that, and vote accordingly.

Self Serve Gasoline, Article #14 Review

The 2013 session of Town Meeting is approaching fast.

I hope to be able to hear from constituents on these articles.

For example, this year, Town Meeting will consider Article 14, which seeks to amend our bylaws to allow self-serve gasoline.

My impression so far, is that a fair number of people think it’s silly not to be able to pump your own gas in Arlington.

Likewise, a fair number of people really like full service being standard in Arlington.

I hate to see our town divided, neighbor pitted against neighbor, brother against brother, but such are the times in which we live.

Do you support making this change? Are you opposed to making this change?

Let me know your thoughts.

Town Meeting's first session is April 22nd.

I have a rough spreadsheet put together of the articles before Town Meeting this year, viewable from the Draft 2013 Town Warrant link at the top of the page.

Mass Insanity

I have a theory, that goes something like this:

When you’re unable to see an issue from the perspective of someone with an opinion different than your own, strange things start to happen.

Oddly, despite any evidence to the contrary, you begin to think that the opposing view doesn’t actually exist; that people are either "making it all up" or that the number of people with an opposing view is extremely small.

Weirdly, the inability to see the world from anywhere but your own point within it, results in delusions.

Put another way, the inability to purposefully delude yourself, results in actual delusions.

We experience this all the time when viewing events on the national stage. The inability to see across ideological lines is largely a product of not being able to comprehend how the other side sees an issue.

Here in Arlington I think we’re seeing this with regards to the leaf blower issue as well.

People opposed to the current bylaw actually think that Town Meeting is acting on its own, independant of the will of their constituents.

What our motivation is supposed to be escapes me.

I don’t know of any Town Meeting members that cast their votes based solely on how many constituents asked them to vote one way versus another. Some of the decisions, including the recent leaf blower votes, are too much part of a nuanced process of moving the issue toward resolution for each vote to be a simple poll.

That said, I get the impression that some would be dumbfounded to learn that prior to voting I was contacted by equal numbers of people on both sides of the issue.

Looking back now, it looks like I was contacted by 10 separate individuals or groups with regards to this issue. I received 5 contacts asking me to repeal the bylaw, and 5 contacts asking me to sustain it.

Those contacts consisted of 2 professional landscaper associations, 4 residents outside of my precinct, and 4 residents within my precinct.

Of the contacts within my precinct, 1 wanted the bylaw repealed, and 3 wanted it sustained.

Depending what side a person is on regarding this issue, they’ll interpret that statement as either false ("not the whole story," "just a some crazy people") or they’ll interpret it as validation ("this shows its just the special interests that are trying to derail our government.")

I don’t think it means either. I think it means that there are valid positions held on both sides of this debate, and that a prerequisite of putting this issue behind us for good is that we come to an understanding of that.