Time to Take Away the Keys

On Sunday, Mayor Mack’s Chief of Staff Paul Sigmund was stopped by a Trenton Police Officer on Route 1 Southbound, as he was allegedly driving over 85 mph in a 55 mph zone. He was cited for that speed, as well as for other violations stemming from the fact he was driving with a suspended California license.

There has been a lot of press over the last few days about this incident, much of it devoted to speculation about the circumstances of his suspended license, or other incidents in Mr. Sigmund’s personal history. Enough has been written about that, so I won’t need to add to the conversation, other than to offer one eyebrow raised in skepticism in response to Mr. Sigmund’s explanation for his speeding: “I was totally lost in thought, rushing back to work because I had this great idea about improving our school system. I’ll tell you about it soon.”

Uh huh. Riiiiight!

What strikes me about this incident is this: what, may I ask, was Mr. Sigmund doing driving a City Vehicle on a Sunday afternoon. What City Business was he conducting that required use of this taxpayer-owned-and-maintained vehicle? Some education-related emergency, leading to his Deep Thought causing him to speed? Racing to or from a three-alarm fire, or scene of a Trenton SWAT shootout? A budget-related emergency, perhaps?

We haven’t been given any explanation for his usage of this city-owned car on a weekend. In the press, and in the Comments sections of newspaper websites, no one has raised this as a concern. Have we become so used to the idea that cars are handed out to city employees as perqs having nothing to do with their official city duties that this is no longer worth any notice?

After a flurry of attention last month on the topic, I wrote a column on the matter of the City’s vehicle fleet. I tried to remind people then, and will again, that we have a Law on our books requiring the City to provide information on who is driving taxpayer-owned vehicles, and for what official purposes – or not. This Administration is ignoring the requirements of that law, and City Council is not holding anyone accountable.

Yes, this past weekend’s incident involving Mr. Sigmund has high entertainment value. But it would be unfortunate if that is the only takeaway from Sunday’s events.

We have too many vehicles being driven by too many people and costing too much money that we don’t have – FOR NO GOOD REASON.

We need the City to pay attention to our vehicles law, provide the information the law requires, and take away the keys from those who Do. Not. Need. These. Cars.