November 13, 2007
Where does he find the time?
Brad Wilson is chief operating officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, current member and former chair of the UNC Board of Governors, one of ten members of the perhaps formerly high profile state tax reform commission and is now the newly appointed chair of the latest high profile 21st Century Transportation Committee. They must be making money hand over fist at NC Blue Cross these days if the COO has the time to be involved in what looks to be every significant commission in the state dealing with the big three – education, taxes, and roads. And don’t forget health!
Mr. Wilson’s latest extracurricular challenge deals with transportation. As Jack Schofield recently reported, the first meeting of the 21st Century Transportation Committee he chairs seems to point to a focus on roads, roads, and more roads. Public transport (like Charlotte’s innovative new light rail) was hardly mentioned. Walkable communities? Bicycle lanes? Ditto.
Lucky for the citizens of North Carolina that Mr. Wilson is in charge. No doubt he will prove Jack wrong and steer the committee to the more progressive waters he works hard to sail when he’s at his one job that actually comes with a salary. Yes, NC Blue Cross is very big on prevention, riding bicycles to work, reducing sprawl and generally healthy living.
Sure, there are a few missteps. After all, NC Blue Cross Blue Shield’s 2007 preventive health report doesn’t have an auspicious start. The cover is plastered with a guy in a business suit riding an ill-fitting bicycle while not wearing a helmet, a piece of cycling safety gear so basic all children in North Carolina are required to wear one. At least he’s healthily riding on a (one hopes) safe bike lane to his office.
Then there’s Blue’s 2006 major report on prevention (PDF) with its clarion call against sprawl:
National research has shown that people who live in sprawling communities are more likely to be overweight and suffer from health conditions such as hypertension. Many of us live in locations that make it difficult to be active and eat well, and have busy schedules that further compound the problem. BCBSNC is part of a statewide partnership to find, promote and replicate successful community efforts to attack those problems.
Surely his company’s lofty ideals will be translated by 21st Century Chairman Wilson’s firm hand into recommendations that are for something else other than building more sprawl-inducing outer-outer loops and four lane highways to nowhere. How about starting with a few bike lanes in downtown Raleigh and maybe one of those nifty light rails like Charlotte’s got?
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1 Comment Add yours »
In re: Where does he find the time?
Just another example of the government helping the wrong people. The well-to-do and socially connected in NC have a fine old time at everyone’s expense. Years ago there was a lot of talk about the Democrat “Good Old Boys” as this was not part of the other party. Seems the Republicans have a similar but more secret cartel going on in their own party. This cartel is the only group receiving any benefit from our attempt at colonial rule in Iraq and other places. Those on the other end face tremendous levels of uncertainty about basic everyday needs.
I am an unemployed exfelon with some education who daily faces rejection from employers who are scared away by the necessity of my being honest–under penalty of conviction and imprisonment. There is no proof I’ve been able to find that exfelons are any more likely to be honest or dishonest than those without a record or members of a class such as lawyers. I only need one job that apys a living wage.