Ivory Tower

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We have to admit that we’re a bit confused about County Judge Carlos Cascos’ idea to allow workers to come to the office just four days a week so they can safe the cost of gas on the fifth day.

First, we appreciate his concern for the employees, and his creative ways of trying to help them. Whenever his predecessor, Gilberto Hinojosa, wanted to win favor with his crew, he just raised bridge tolls and shared the windfall around the office.

But if he’s thinking about saving gas, Cascos might be looking at the wrong solution.

First of all, we’re not sure the county can get by with a four-day workweek, since they already seem to close county offices to enjoy every holiday on the books. Of course they take July 4, Memorial Day and all the other big days off, but they also shut down on Juneteenth, Texas Independence Day and the like. If somebody decides to create a holiday to celebrate Pecos Bill or somesuch character, you can bet that Cameron County residents will lose one more day of services. Add the holidays to a shorter workweek and these workers might not go to the office often enough to even memorize the best route to work.

When it comes to gas consumption, however, going to work more often could actually be the best way to save money — at least, if county workers are anything like we are.

On our days off we actually burn up the gasoline, running errands and doing chores that have accumulated during the week while we’re stuck in our little tower. Weekends are filled with shopping for groceries, taking things out to get fixed or just going to the Laundromat to clean the bedroom comforters that don’t fit in the home washing machine.

Then there’s the time we take to relax or have a bit of fun. Often that means driving out to visit friends, or heading out to the mall, the movies, a restaurant or whatever.

Even staying home ends up costing more, since opening and closing various doors around the house makes the air-conditioner and fridge work harder, and it’s likely that we’ll be using lights, radios or televisions, etc.

An extra day off is a juicy morsel indeed; we might like to taste such a treat now and again. But if the idea is to safe money on fuel — at least where we tower dwellers are concerned — it’s probably better that we come on in and punch the clock. That would keep us off the streets, out of trouble, and away from the poor house.