Since taking photos of opposition vehicles is a part of PATH's "Best Practice" #1, that leads us directly to "Best Practice #2" -- The "Company Policy" on photographs at public meetings.
It's okay for PATH to take photos of the opposition at public meetings for the express purpose of having a "trophy" and to be used as some sort of funny joke where these arrogant fools ridicule the opposition. However, what happens when the opposition turns the tables on PATH and begins collecting photos of THEM at public meetings and using the photos to give the opposition a chance to heap on the ridicule? PATH doesn't like it very much! So, what do they do about it? They develop a "Company Policy" on the spot at a public meeting that prohibits photography. Riiiiiiiiight....
At the Charlie Foxtrot "public information meeting" in Frederick last fall, they developed their "policy" during the meeting because Pinky, from Charles Ryan Assoc., didn't want his picture taken while he was goofing off playing games on his iPhone. Pinky went running to Randy Palmer and, after a group crying session that would make Dr. Phil proud, a "Company Policy" was developed. Poor ol' Puddin' drew the short straw and got tasked with notifying us of the "policy". Just because I'm not tall enough to see over the heads of others across a crowded room and I was busy talking with someone else doesn't mean I don't know how the "policy" was developed. Someone tall enough to see over the crowd was watching it transpire.
Since when is the opposition under any obligation to observe PATH-dictated "Company Policy"? We don't work for you -- your gun is loaded with blanks! And it's not like we were sneaking through your backyards and peeking through your windows taking photographs (no, PATH, that's not a suggestion for a new "best practice"). You all were appearing as representatives of PATH at public meetings/hearings/functions. We can take all the photos we wish! And we did.
While PATH's interactions with the citizens were on behalf of a corporation, the citizens' interactions with PATH were entirely personal. Not quite a level playing field, was it?
Next time, don't start a battle that you don't want to fight. Lesson learned?
It's okay for PATH to take photos of the opposition at public meetings for the express purpose of having a "trophy" and to be used as some sort of funny joke where these arrogant fools ridicule the opposition. However, what happens when the opposition turns the tables on PATH and begins collecting photos of THEM at public meetings and using the photos to give the opposition a chance to heap on the ridicule? PATH doesn't like it very much! So, what do they do about it? They develop a "Company Policy" on the spot at a public meeting that prohibits photography. Riiiiiiiiight....
At the Charlie Foxtrot "public information meeting" in Frederick last fall, they developed their "policy" during the meeting because Pinky, from Charles Ryan Assoc., didn't want his picture taken while he was goofing off playing games on his iPhone. Pinky went running to Randy Palmer and, after a group crying session that would make Dr. Phil proud, a "Company Policy" was developed. Poor ol' Puddin' drew the short straw and got tasked with notifying us of the "policy". Just because I'm not tall enough to see over the heads of others across a crowded room and I was busy talking with someone else doesn't mean I don't know how the "policy" was developed. Someone tall enough to see over the crowd was watching it transpire.
Since when is the opposition under any obligation to observe PATH-dictated "Company Policy"? We don't work for you -- your gun is loaded with blanks! And it's not like we were sneaking through your backyards and peeking through your windows taking photographs (no, PATH, that's not a suggestion for a new "best practice"). You all were appearing as representatives of PATH at public meetings/hearings/functions. We can take all the photos we wish! And we did.
While PATH's interactions with the citizens were on behalf of a corporation, the citizens' interactions with PATH were entirely personal. Not quite a level playing field, was it?
Next time, don't start a battle that you don't want to fight. Lesson learned?
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