Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Barack Obama

Obama Wants Car Czar to Accompany Big Three Aid

12:11 PM EST on November 12, 2008

More details of a possible Obama administration-led auto industry bailout emerged yesterday when Politico reported that the president-elect wants a "high-profile point person to oversee reforms" attached to any financial aid.

Specifics about the proposal remain unclear. But the transition teamsays Obama suggested to President Bush on Monday that aid to the autoindustry could be coupled with the appointment of "someone in charge ofthe auto issue who would have the authority" to push for reforms. Thedetails came from a more extended readout of the White House meetingprovided Tuesday.

It will be interesting to see how this proposal plays in Detroit, where resistance to change, even in the marketplace it serves, may be the biggest contributor to its current predicament. In the meantime, how might the next president balance his union sympathies and urban policy cred in the name of auto industry "reform"?

Brad Aaron
Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York'’s dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Today's Headlines

Kiss Wednesday’s Headlines on the Bus

Bus-only lanes result in faster service that saves transit agencies money and helps riders get to work faster.

May 1, 2024
Streetsblog Los AngelesParks

Freeway Drivers Keep Slamming into Bridge Railing in L.A.’s Griffith Park

Drivers keep smashing the Riverside Drive Bridge railing - plus a few other Griffith Park bike/walk updates.

April 30, 2024
Vehicle Safety Standards

Four Things to Know About the Historic Automatic Emergency Braking Rule

The new automatic emergency braking rule is an important step forward for road safety — but don't expect it to save many lives on its own.

April 30, 2024
Promoted ArchivesTraffic

Trump Trial Street Closures Push Pedestrians, Cyclists into Busy Traffic

April 30, 2024
Today's Headlines

Who’s to Blame for Tuesday’s Headlines?

Are the people in this photo inherently "vulnerable", or is this car just dangerous?

April 30, 2024
See all posts