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Joe Hill LTD Project
Involved in what? That was the first thought that came to Joe Hill's mind. Do we ever see them? NO except for Dave Kleger. How are they involved? What are they involved with at LTD? Do they ever disagree with each other or are their votes ever split? Ever wonder why?
First, Joe made an error in an earlier article, only three of the Board Members are lawyers not four. Sorry for the error. I had included Pat Hocken but come to learn that she is a CPA.
Now I don't know about you, but I haven't heard of many lawyers or CPA's riding our buses. I think that they would kind of stick out in a way, but then it is hard to tell. It is interesting to note that all of these lawyers are business lawyers. Let me tell you that their business is not our business. "Bottom liners" like this CPA and our trio of business lawyers care little for people but act for the company or for the bosses. They worry about image, about asset values, preserving capital and balance sheet stuff. To them we are an expense and to CPA's and business lawyers expenses are bad. In any event, I have to wonder who they are representing when they vote and speak at Board meetings. Not me or my neighbors.
We also have two social service directors on the LTD Board. You wouldn't know it from the posture that the District is taking in negotiations. This also means that 71% f the LTD board comes from only two professions. Odd isn't it?
Social service agencies are supposed to care about people. But remember these two are social service people are bosses at their agencies. They have joined with the others on the LTD Board who are on a rush for the bottom in wages. In addition, Hillary Wylie has been a Pension Trustee for the last four years. Does she know anything about Pensions? I don't know. But one thing I do know is that union pensions are not nearly as good as non-union pensions and what has she done about it. Nothing! Does she care - I don't think so. Equitable treatment of employees must not in her vision of LTD.
Hillary Wylie is the Executive Director of Willamette Family Treatment Services, Inc. This is a chemical dependency treatment program. In looking at years of minutes of the LTD Board I have never read an account of her speaking for these poor folks and their possible need for public transit. Those who abuse alcohol and drugs frequently lose their driving privileges. Her employees are non-union and get benefits I hear tell, but for the employee only.
Then there is Susan Ban, Director of Lane Shelter Care (Lane Shelter Care is a mental health agency) and she is a member of the Board of Directors of Peace Health. Which brings me to the problem of conflict of interests.
Lawyers have lots of clients and they are all secret for the most part. We don't know who in the community these lawyers represent and who they don't. We don't know if they if they have pro-union clients or anti-union clients. We don't know if they represent LTD employees, bosses or supervisors in some capacity or their spouses. We will never know, cause they have to keep it secret. Plus they know lots of secrets of others. They have to protect their clients and so how will we know if they are acting in the interest of the public transit District or their secret client. We just have to trust. But Joe has hard time with trust right now.
The real question is should 42% of the Board be composed a single profession- lawyers? 71% from two professions. Why not plumbers, mechanics, janitors, doctors, nurses, medical technicians, City or County employees? How about a union business agent, how about a musician or a student, or a barber, a hair stylist, a shop owner, a retiree, a delivery driver how about ...You get my point. Blue collar people ride the bus, but they are NEVER on the Board of Directors. Are there any of these types of folk on the BRT advisory committee? Are they ANY blue collar people on this Board? NO! Diversity in occupation, culture, color or ethnicity - forget it, that will never happen - unless we work to make it happen.
The reason this Board does not ever have a split vote is because they either let the bosses do all the thinking and policy work or they are too much alike. Either alternative is not acceptable. There should be a full court press with the Governor's office to fix this. Wylie, Lauritsen and Hocken's positions are up for appointment. 42% of the Board is changing and a lawyer should not be among the new appointments.
We should ask Governor Ted to broaden the horizons of appointments. But as Joe has said before this Board deserves complete replacement for allowing the waste of funds around the AVS bus fiasco to go without any accountability or to plan on permitting the District to go into debt for buses and to a drive the District into a coming labor dispute.
Remember Susan Ban on our Board and the Peace Health Board? Now back to one conflict of interest we do know about. LTD is suing Oregon Medical Labs and it is owned by Peace Health over some tax issue that is mentioned in the budget. And look where the next leg of the BRT is headed - Riverbend even their is no such place, but Peace Health is trying to create one. Riverbend is a long way from approval for Peace Health but BRT will be serving that riverside pasture for sure. Excellent planning again...How convenient. The LTD Board has so many matters that involve Peace Health - routes, group passes, fares, and of course BRT. Give me a break.
These magnificent seven have not come to the rescue of our small village. Instead they have left a bread trail for the BRT beast to come amongst us, lead on a chain by Boss Hamm and Assistant trainers Pangborn and Viggiano. The Magnificent seven clapping their hands all the way, always together and in unison and now the beast slowly eats away the real reason we exist. To provide a reliable alternative means of transportation to the car.
This board has watched blithely for three years as ridership has fallen. What have they done in response to these rider losses? Cut regular service. Increase fares 25% and make adjustments to time points that make no sense. Oh they also agreed to continue transferring money from the General Fund of operations to capital. We know why. But how can they face the voters with reductions in service, increases in taxes, fares and loss of ridership... Oh that's right they aren't elected. Oh I am sure they also heaped praise on Boss Hamm and gave him big pay increases. I'd bet the ranch on that.
The Bosses are looking for replacement clones now. Blue collar people need not apply - just face it, they are not are not smart enough.
In Solidarity,
Joe Hill
JH 40
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