Thursday, September 24, 2009

Are They Serious?

After the June 22 crash, we collected some quotes from local pols and players about what they were going to do about improving Metro. How are they doing?

Today, we have two articles, one in the Post about Catoe's "toughest test" and another on WTOP about how the union says it's getting screwed. They're full of amazing quotes!

Feast your eyes:

"We're having the heavens open, and all manner of demons have been unleashed."
--Metro Board CHAIRMAN Jim Graham on Metro's "bad luck" of late, as quoted by The Washington Post.

"Before you throw the pilot (Catoe) out of the plane, you've got to have evidence that says, 'Hey, your leadership is so flawed that it's contributing to the problems."
--Ibid.

"This place has chewed up a lot of people. Catoe has restored a sense of firm control. He's gotten finances under control, put a tight rein on the staff, oriented the thing."
--Former congressman Tom Davis, a Northern Virginia Republican and a Metro critic who led efforts on Capitol Hill to obtain more federal funding. (Post)

"A lot of times, I feel like we're playing Whack-a-Mole. Every time something gets settled, something else pops up."
--Board member Jeff C. McKay (Post)

"Metro has reacted by attempting to scapegoat workers. Morale has never been as low, and the level of harassment as high."
Jackie Jeter, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 on Metro's discipline "crackdown" as quoted by WTOP

"My members need to know that when they come to work they won't be disciplined unduly or lose their jobs because of this feeding frenzy Metro has unleashed."
--Ibid.

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is Jim Graham part of the problem? If the heavens were opening, that would portend that angels, or even God Himself, were swooping down - perhaps wrathfully, perhaps righteously, perhaps forgivingly and performing miracles.

Is it telling that Graham follows the opening of heavens with all manner of demons being unleashed? Perhaps up really is down at WMATA Perhaps they have a vastly different concept of heaven and hell, of good and evil, of angels and demons.

Here's hoping he just misspoke.

Unsuck DC Metro said...

I think the more salient point is that Mr. Graham seems to think the supernatural somehow is playing a role in Metro's woes.

Ken said...

As much as I like the quote "having the heavens open, and all manner of demons have been unleashed", I think the "Before you throw the pilot (Catoe) out of the plane, you've got to have evidence that says, 'Hey, your leadership is so flawed that it's contributing to the problems." is much more apropos.

What if the plane were crashing, Mr. Graham? If my pilot successfully drove a plane into a mountain after 2 engines failed prior to his command, does he rate an ejection from the plane? ...Catoe is long overdue the boot, but DC has a habit of rewarding incompetence.

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