“Todd Spitzer, You’re a Moron”

Photo: FullertonsFuture.org

Orange County Supervisor and Transportation Corridor Agency Board Member Todd Spitzer GOT ROASTED on KFI’s John and Ken Show late Thursday afternoon.

John Kobylt had recently used the 73 Toll Road, and with his usual bluster took a few minutes to justifiably condemn how poorly the TCA (a “colossal ripoff“) has implemented the electronic tolling system on their ludicrously expensive and poorly used asset.  Last May, the Toll Roads stopped accepting cash — both the human toll takers and payment machines were eliminated.  Users were expected to have transponders and “FasTrak” for automated billing, or a license plate reader would register the user in a database and then expect their payment via the Internet within 48 hours, before a $57 fine was added.

John and Ken had previously commented on the difficulties which occasional or new users of the toll roads were having — signs had been erected instructing drivers how to gouge themselves for payment but per the LA Times, Violations surge(d) after O.C. tolls roads end cash option.  Unpaid fines could easily accumulate to $400 or more.

Knowing Spitzer can’t resist a microphone, Kobylt baited him to come on the show — obviously he or his staff defensively listens and it sounded like he called in from the road minutes later.  Readers can listen to the podcast here.  The pertinent discussion begins at 4:15 where Kobylt correctly calls the new toll scheme a “scam to trap people”.  At 7:40, he first calls Spitzer a “moron”.  Kobylt baited Spitzer a second time at 8:50, again calling him a “moron”, and then an “egomaniacal narcissist”.  Never one to be criticized for the shortcomings of government, or himself, Spitzer made it on-air at 12:12, claiming there’ll be no fines for 90 days, and patronizing the hosts by calling the situation he must have voted for “confusing and unfair”.

Spitzer was asked, but could not explain why there wasn’t at least one toll collector left for occasional users of the road (but they’re “looking at it”).  He also could not explain why it was at all justifiable or necessary for TCA to go cashless.  He did suggest that the TCA (which we’ve learned have two completely separate Boards) shouldn’t exist at all, and that its operations should be merged with the OCTA which manages the similarly costly 91 Express Lanes ripoff.

KFI, which has over one million listeners during drive-time, hung up on Spitzer at 15:05.