Friday, March 30, 2012
Metro Moves
1:30 is when you get a good view. WTF?
Other items:
Metro investigating attack on elderly woman (Fox5)
More streetcar woes (Examiner)
MARC steps it up (WaPo)
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Ron F*cking Swanson
Via @thedigidiva “Mr. Swanson Goes To Washington #lowerhodetrip #ronswanson #metro #dc”
Other items:
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
GM Sarles, Jackie Jeter React to Washington Times Articles
Jeter's letter below
This is a letter Sarles is apparently sending to the Times:
Dear Editor:
In recent articles, Luke Rosiak declined to use facts provided by Metro, instead employing outdated information, misquoting officials, and drawing inaccurate conclusions about WMATA that are particularly odious at a time when Metro’s men and women are working hard to rebuild this system.The letter was prefaced with a note to employees:
Last year, Metro’s progress included a reduction in employee and customer injuries, improvements in train and bus reliability, and a decrease in crime on the system. Thanks to the hard work of our employees, we advanced NTSB safety recommendations and completed all 10 FTA safety improvements. Metro achieved a 90 percent escalator availability. And we are continuing to rebuild our infrastructure after years of deferred maintenance – installing more than 21 miles of new rail, rehabilitating or replacing 43 escalators and completing many station renovations. We are also building our human capital, filling vacancies and generating new jobs in the region, the majority of which are focused on safety, rebuilding the system, better maintenance levels, and expanding bus and rail services.
We are proud of a workforce that is increasingly diverse. The facts are that the number of Hispanics and women has grown significantly. We currently have 646 rail operators, of which 30 percent are women and this year we recognized the first female champion of our rail operations and safety competition. In bus service, out of 2,780 operators, nearly 27 percent are women. We also note that 22 percent of the staff in today’s Civil Rights office are Hispanic, contrary to your information.
Sincerely,
Richard Sarles
General Manager and
Chief Executive Officer
Dear Coworker:From Jackie Jeter:
As information for you, there follows a copy of a Letter to the Editor I am sending today to the Washington Times in response to an appalling series of articles published this week about Metro.
While the Times may elect not to print the letter, I felt that it was important to set the record straight and to share our response with all of you.
I hope you will continue to remain focused on your important work and to make your safety, and the safety of our customers, your top priority.
Sincerely,
Richard Sarles
General Manager and
Chief Executive Officer
Letter to the Editor of the Washington Times
By Jackie Jeter, President, Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 689
Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 689 strongly condemns the racist diatribe, “Inept get promoted, … capable get buried” (Mar. 27, 2012). We unequivocally reject the outrageous aspersion that Metro’s majority black workforce is incompetent. We also reject, and vehemently deny, the sentiment that this union has participated in or condoned discriminant behavior towards any individual or group of individuals. We celebrate diversity in all forms.
Each day, an estimated 700,000 commuters and visitors ride Metro rail and Metro bus. Metro is the second largest public transit system in America. A system of this large capacity requires unrelenting dedication and specialized skills to function. The system simply would not operate without Metro workers performing their jobs with the utmost competence and focus on service, reliability and safety. I am proud of the work they do.
Since the mid-19th century, unions have played a crucial role in advancing the rights and protections of American workers. Local 689 is a proud member of the nation’s labor movement. Our union has fought for civil rights, women’s rights, and workers rights. We stand by our workers unapologetically in solidarity with their commitment to deliver high quality services to the riding public.
Metro workers are deeply rooted in the Washington metro region. Most of the rank-and-file workers live in Metro’s service area—the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and northern Virginia. Contrary to your story, we reflect the region’s diverse demographics.
The Washington Times clearly crossed the line of ethical journalism with its propaganda piece. We urge the newspaper to practice the principles of truthfulness, accuracy, impartiality, fairness and objectivity at all times.
We demand an apology for the racist shade cast on our members.
Jackie Jeter, President
Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 689
Representing more than 11,000 Metro workers
Metro Hawkers
Via @pawell99 A DC occupier on the loose... @unsuckdcmetro #WMATA pic.twitter.com/M5YOVIJM
Via @CCCAPrez @wmata Is it legal to sell things on trains? GreenLine at GalleryPlace http://t.co/PPtqQaa9
via @JulesLyskawa
From James:
Are people allowed to sell stuff on Metro? Most of the people who sell actual stuff are nice enough and will take no for an answer, but there are some others who are quite rude and aggressive. I'd be in favor of keeping them all out, frankly.What have you seen?
Other items:
Metro can't fill jobs, unless they're old friends from NJ Transit (Washington Times)
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Bethesda Bottleneck
Via Jeanne: 8:50 a.m.: One escalator for both up and down. Massive backup. No way out.
@unsuckdcmetro: only 1 of 3 Bthsda escltrs open this AM, but wasn't running. Basically a 2-way staircase. Awful human traffic james ensued.
— TheSSLauren (@TheSSLauren) March 27, 2012
A Fine Example
Via @Kevin1877No drinking on Metro! @UnsuckDCMetro http://pic.twitter.com/qw9KBfDg
GM Richard Sarles has sent out Metro-wide reminders to employees about taking pride and setting a good example while in uniform.
Other items:
Monday, March 26, 2012
Management run Amok
Cartoon courtesy: www.savagechickens.com
This is another installment a recent series (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4) of posts exploring the mismanagement, and outright theft, at the transit authority.
What is most disturbing to me about this is how an expanded "at will" policy--meaning some high-level employees can be fired at any time, with or without cause--does not appear to be enforced.
It all seems like another hollow PR move.
Take, for example, the case of Metro's assistant GM for planning, Nat Bottigheimer. He admitted credit card fraud happened in his department. He was "admonished," but he's still employed. Another top manager was allowed to quietly "retire" after his involvement was discovered. No one was prosecuted.
But that was the planning department. Here's the view from a Metro consultant with ties to the revenue department:
Management at Metro is a joke.Other items:
This is even more upsetting because GM Richard Sarles implemented a policy in which more senior management officials are employed at will.
But the policy is not enforced.
Under the watch of the ostensibly "at will" assistant treasurer, someone fundamentally responsible for the safekeeping of Metro's cash, nearly half a million dollars was stolen over years.
Was the assistant treasurer fired? No. He was allowed to quietly retire. They even held a retirement party.
Take a look at the department he ran.
There are safes in the revenue building which haven't had the combinations changed in years.
Keys to very sensitive areas have been lost, but the locks have not been changed.
These are the locks that protect the money!
Employees were allowed to switch shifts to work with friends/co-criminals.
Sensitive information that should be compartmentalized is not.
At Metro, there aren't any safeguards in place.
The revenue building is filled with obsolete equipment--some of which is so old they can't get parts for them and have to make them themselves.
Other organizations that deal with large amounts of cash would never allow these kinds of things to happen.
I think it all boils down to people in senior management. They're afraid to make waves, and their bosses are afraid to make waves.
The management style is "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours."
That leads to people getting into positions they are not qualified for.
They just want to stay in, retire quietly and collect their pensions.
They're all concerned about their own little fiefdom, and they'll dump their problems on anyone.
I think this is crazy, and I'm embarrassed.
It could be such a much better system.
I do see some signs that Metro is bringing in outsiders, which I hope will weaken the good old boy network that's running the place now.
Metro doesn't know what to do with convict bus driver (Examiner)
Friday, March 23, 2012
Friday Info Fail
via @robertdkalb: @wmata Transfer station indicators missing on new Grosvenor station sign http://pic.twitter.com/Tbb2HzZC
Just in time for tourist season!
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