Mayor defends city buying himself a gas guzzling Hummer
Filed under: Budgets, Extracurriculars, Recession
A Mayor's Choice
The Myers Motors NmG all electric car is test driven on an indoor test drive track during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan January 12, 2009. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
The Myers Motors NmG all electric car is test driven on an indoor test drive track during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan January 12, 2009. REUTERS/Mark Blinch (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Designed in California, USA, the 2010 Fisker Karma is the first luxury plug-in hybrid car. (PRNewsFoto/Fisker Automotive, Inc.)
PR NEWSWIRE
Charging conecting plug for the Chinese BYD e6 electric car is introduced during a press preview at the North American International Auto Show January 12, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Front area of the Chinese BYD e6 electric car is introduced during a press preview at the North American International Auto Show January 12, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
Journalists view the Chinese BYD e6 electric car introduced during a press preview at the North American International Auto Show January 12, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
The Chinese BYD e6 electric car is introduced during a press preview at the North American International Auto Show January 12, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
DETROIT - JANUARY 12: Rick Wagoner, Chairman and CEO, General Motors, talks about a lithium-ion battery that GM will manufacture for the Volt electric car during the second press preview for the Detroit International Auto Show at the Cobo Center January 12, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. The 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) opens to the public January 17. Automakers have cut back on their displays to save money and are focusing more on the cars they plan to produce in response to the financial weakening of the industry. (Photo by Bryan Mitchell/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rick Wagoner
Getty Images
DETROIT - JANUARY 12: Rick Wagoner, Chairman and CEO, General Motors, introduces a lithium-ion battery (L) that GM will manufacture for the Volt electric car during the second press preview for the Detroit International Auto Show at the Cobo Center January 12, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. The 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) opens to the public January 17. Automakers have cut back on their displays to save money and are focusing more on the cars they plan to produce in response to the financial weakening of the industry. (Photo by Bryan Mitchell/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rick Wagoner
Getty Images
Rick Wagoner (R), General Motors Chairman and CEO shakes hands with Peter Kim (L), President LG Chem during a press preview at the North American International Auto Show January 12, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. LG Chem will help manufacture the lithium-ion battery for the GM Volt electric car. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
If the economy wasn't in such dire shape, it would almost be funny how tone deaf some politicians can be about the economy.
Oh, never mind. It is kind of funny. Clay defended himself mightily when he spoke in front of the state's Distressed Unit Appeals Board: "What do you want me to do, walk around here? I've got to have a car."
Sure, but a 2009 Hummer H3 for $29,970? Clay proudly noted that he received a $5,000 discount. Otherwise it would have cost more. And until he was criticized for the purchase, the cash-strapped berg of Gary, Indiana was picking up the gas tab. Now, apparently, the mayor is paying for his gas.
And in Clay's mind, he is a cost-conscious mayor. After all, as he told the state board: "We're saving taxpayers money by riding in a Hummer. I could've bought a $50,000 Expedition."
Hmm. Perhaps Gary could use another mayor? Maybe one who already drives a Prius...
Geoff Williams is a freelance journalist and the author of C.C. Pyle's Amazing Foot Race: The True Story of the 1928 Coast-to-Coast Run Across America (Rodale).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 13)
1-12-2009 @ 10:00AM
Lee said...
The photo in the article is a HUMMER H2, not H3. The H2 is the gas guzzler. The H3 gets in the low 20s on the highway, better than many foreign and US pickups and SUVs. It's thj same or better than buying a Ford Explorer. It it was a Toyota Highlander, nothing would have been said, but actually the H3 is a better deal!
A Prius can't carry many people etc. It's also more expensive than $29,000!
Reply
1-13-2009 @ 9:27AM
jmpace said...
The mayor of NYC is a billionaire and takes the subway to work where he is working for one dollar a year. That's a good mayor. Gary, Indiana is obviously more corrupt and will let their mayor abuse his office and do nothing and not hold him to task in these hard times.
1-13-2009 @ 8:47AM
Gordon said...
Why doesn't he buy his own damned car like his employers do (you know, the rest of us)?
1-13-2009 @ 9:49AM
Gary said...
Don't know if you've ever bought a Prius, but they are well below 25,000, unless you get every possible accessory (which I'm sure the mayor of Gary needs).
Hey, let him drive what he wants...as long as he pays for the gas, and the vehicle is not outrageously expensive. If he's not concerned about energy conservation, let the voters deal with him (or not).
1-13-2009 @ 1:14PM
Mike said...
Thank you, I couldn't have said it any better. When I read it was an H3, I laughed! H3's (baby Hummers) don't compare to the H2's.
1-12-2009 @ 4:07PM
Marsha said...
It doesn't matter if it's an H2 or H3. Mayor Clay doesn't need it!! He had a 2007 Hummer what was wrong with that? The city of Gary has bad financial problems. You don't go out and buy the mayor a new vehicle. You stop the frivolous spending. Why can't he walk Gary isn't that big. It's about time the politicians thought about the people they're serving. They are taxing us to death and for what? Why aren't the big businesses paying their share of the property taxes. That was part of the state tax relief program for many years. Now the businesses get the relief and we get the grief!
Reply
1-12-2009 @ 10:21PM
Alicia said...
He could've bought a Honda Accord for 20K which gets 30 mpg. He could've bought a number of vehicles for cheaper and with better gas mileage. THAT's the point. He went for something he didn't need and that the city can't afford.
1-12-2009 @ 10:05PM
Ron said...
Mayor Clay is clueless,and so are the stupid sheep that voted him in.
Reply
1-12-2009 @ 10:07PM
Lillian said...
Another politician milking the system for all it's worth. He doesn't NEED a Hummer of any kind to do his job. We all need to be outraged at situations like this with what we all have to do just to get by now. Money being sqwandered like this just keeps everything in a vicious cycle. Imagine all the overpriced perks we never find out about??
Reply
1-12-2009 @ 10:09PM
Chell said...
It is important to note that his wife is the commissioner in charge of weights and measurements... the office that is responsible for regulating the dispersment of gasoline at gas stations. Local scuttlebutt says that she has a special pump for him where he can get his gas cheaper, too!
Reply
1-12-2009 @ 10:13PM
Scout said...
What about a fout year old Lincoln, black?????? re-enforced side steel and glass and you are good to go for 18-(MIL-LE/BODYGUARD HERE)
Reply
1-12-2009 @ 10:13PM
RAC55 said...
The classic liberal democrat...."Do as I say, Not as I do".........
Reply
1-13-2009 @ 10:55AM
Joseph said...
How do you know he's liberal?
1-13-2009 @ 3:36PM
blinwmi said...
Evidently Joseph has never been to Gary Indiana, if he had he would know that it is an urban slum. Name me one city in similiar conditions with a history of republican leadership. That city is close enough to Cook county,ILL, that conservative politicians are extinct.
1-12-2009 @ 10:14PM
Chris said...
Just another D.A.N. // He didn't want a ford because the only time someone of his color is in a ford, it is in the back seat in handcuffs
Reply
1-13-2009 @ 1:30AM
vanmanlocal110 said...
Ha-ha asshole
1-13-2009 @ 9:45AM
Dan said...
You racist SOB.... when I see someone White... I see them chasing behing young children to rape and murder them. And, when I hear a multitude of people have been murdered and there's a serial killer on the loose... when they finally catch them.... guess what color they are. when I hear about people losing their homes, the economy down the toilet.... guess who did that? If you want to talk race.... let's look at both sides. As far as I am concerned bad DEEDS COME IN ALL COLORS... BLACK AND WHITE!!!!!!
1-13-2009 @ 11:22AM
moderate said...
why did you have to bring your racist comments into this,you should be ashamed. As a racist your probably proud,stunted growth in your mind and heart.
1-13-2009 @ 11:37AM
debra said...
SOOOOOOOOO FUNNNY!!Loved seeing your response&agree totally..
1-13-2009 @ 1:42PM
kristin kmiecik said...
you are a racist pig and a disgrace to humanity.