Deputy Mayor to Tallinn tyre breaker: learn to drive!

Photo: Raivo Hein

Facebook is abuzz with the potholed streets of Tallinn: businessman Raivo Hein, breaking a car tyre in one and posting resulting frustration on his page, received a public reply by Tallinn Deputy Mayor Kalle Klandorf, kindly advising that Mr Hein learn to drive.

The entrepreneur is shocked by such attitude. «Kalle, the reply of Yours is ridiculous. I’ve been at the wheel for 30 years, perhaps breaking only 6-7 tyres in holes for all that time. Only in one instance, it was definitely my youth, inexperience and hardihood, some 20 years back! It is just so sad and regrettable, the attitude You show! Arrogant, haughty… but then, again, that’s the way with Your bunch, anyway, » writes Mr Hein in answer to the comment.

«Instead of regret, compassion or explanation on when the section of the street will be repaired, he ridicules me and tells me to learn to drive. Slalom-style, then? And this is our Deputy Mayor, who sits there, on his post, paid by my money and yours, responsible for our streets! Close to 30 years I’ve been driving cars. And now, suddenly, I’m a novice? Maybe it’s flying lessons I should take?» quipped Mr Hein.

The trip into pothole came costly, in time, nerves and money. «I actually had to buy two tyres, as they don’t sell such low-walled ones one apiece. Then, I had to rush to Saue, to a mechanic-friend of mine who stretched the alloy back to shape. Then to my car dealer’s to put the new tyre on. And then back to Möldre Street, where the car was waiting, jacked up. Looks like a €1,000 bill,» moans Mr Hein.