News from WOOD-TV - Grand Rapids, MI, USA:
(Portage, June 22, 2004, 5:45 p.m.) Two city employees in Portage have been fired after refusing to drive a city-issued electric car. It happened when city officials started using what's called a "GEM" car on its mail run.
One side of the story tells 24 Hour News 8 it's about safety, while the other side says it's about saving money in tough economic times. Either way, a long-time city employee and a former co-worker sit home without jobs.
The life of Mattie Lash, a 12-year Portage city employee, changed when she was told to drive an electric car on the mail run. The car was bought to save the city money. It looks like a Volkswagen, complete with seat belts, a horn, even cup holders. But none of that mattered to Lash. She and another part-time employee didn't want to drive it, and both were fired.
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