RTA Governance

[Busjack]

If you want to have a pathetic laugh, there is this Sun-Times article that Claypool says that the CTA should be exempt from review because the Mayor is in charge.

I guess until the mayor wants an RTA tax increase again, to be paid by suburbanites.

[mkohut]

If you want to have a pathetic laugh, there is this Sun-Times article that Claypool says that the CTA should be exempt from review because the Mayor is in charge.

I guess until the mayor wants an RTA tax increase again, to be paid by suburbanites.

I do find it funny Claypool would say this,

CTA President Forrest Claypool on Wednesday defended the CTA, saying it

should be immune from a shakeup because critics can vote out Mayor Rahm

Emanuel — who names four of seven CTA board members — if they disagree

with CTA actions.

Isn't he forgetting about the other issues.that Emanuel has.

[Busjack]

...

Isn't he forgetting about the other issues.that Emanuel has.

I think that's the least of Claypool's problems. For instance, the schools could be enough to get Emanuel voted out, except if Karen Lewis ran for mayor.

Given the Mellatonia and other examples, Chicago voters aren't voting anyone out. A judge who was found not guilty by reason of insanity was reelected on the retention ballot.

And the issue as I see it is not whether Chicagoans could vote in another mayor who would install another incompetent political lackey to run the CTA. The issue is while the Tribune can figure out such statutory qualifications as "not hold another office in state or municipal government" or "reside in Cook County outside the City of Chicago," it hasn't found the ones in the MTA Act about board members being being persons of business ability and the Executive Director being appointed by the Board based on transportation experience. Instead, Claypool acknowledges that the mayor is illegally in charge of him.

[mkohut]

At the moment no good person has step up to run for Mayor.

If Coach Q live in Chicago he probably would be the best person.

[Busjack]

At the moment no good person has step up to run for Mayor.

If Coach Q live in Chicago he probably would be the best person.

I don't know if winning 2 Stanley Cups is enough. Maybe Stan Bowman, as he has experience as a general manager.

The last mayoral election was about as open as possible (especially given that some element of the Machine tried to get Rahm kicked off the ballot). The problem in this case is besides the advantage of incrumbency [spelling intentional], Emanuel can get money from his brother Ari's associates in Hollywood, as well as his business associates, such as Rauner who is running for governor as a Republican but getting only minor flack as being associated with Rahm and putting Rahm in business between being a Clinton aide and a Congressman.

I'm still surprised that based on your prior posts, you didn't nominate C.M. Punk. After all, Jesse the Body Ventura was elected governor of Minnesota.

[Busjack]

The Daily Herald story on the Metra board also says that Carole Brown was appointed to the Quinn commission. So, Claypool didn't have to open his mouth--the CTA is already protected.

[mkohut]

The Daily Herald story on the Metra board also says that Carole Brown was appointed to the Quinn commission. So, Claypool didn't have to open his mouth--the CTA is already protected.

I'm not sure on that.I don't think she was on the Board when Emanuel took office.

Plus,she was on the Board with all the money that got spend on Block 37.

[Busjack]

I'm not sure on that.I don't think she was on the Board when Emanuel took office.

...

• Daley used her starting about 2005 to push Kruesi's agenda for a tax increase, including that the suburbs should pay for the city. While she claimed to be transparent through her blog, the first thing she couldn't answer is why someone from Crystal Lake should be paying for the CTA.
• At that time, the CT Board Chairman was automatically on the RTA board and she used that to push only the CTA's interest, as reflected on her blog that she was totally ignorant of how Pace and Metra worked (for instance, she posted that "at least CTA has contracted out paratransit while Pace has not," while Pace's website indicated that it had).
• While the issue of CTA being represented on the RTA board but Pace and Metra was not was resolved by the legislature banning the CT chairman in the 2008 legislation, Emanuel did appoint Brown to the RTA board.after she was no longer CT Board chairman.

Brown had left the CT Board because her real job demanded her attention, and left the RTA Board for the same reason.

Let me point out that while I didn't agree with Brown's political stances, at least she met the statutory qualification of a board member of having business ability (although her business at the time was Lehman Brothers), and the board, as then constituted, exercised some oversight, as opposed to the current board that can't even figure out that it is a rubber stamp.

My "CTA is already protected" comment was based on her prior stances that the rest of the region didn't count. For instance, she was originally promoting the "Sunday schedule seven days a week" solution to the so called $54 million deficit in the face of being told "how can city politicians cut off bus service in Oak Park and Evanston" with the response "those mayors will support our drive for funding."

Thus, as I said, Claypool didn't need to make the statement, because he already had his protection. For that matter, other than Fitzgerald, only old names have been cited so far in the articles as being on the panel. So, expect the S.O.S., except maybe that the governor should get a few more appointments.

...

Plus,she was on the Board with all the money that got spend on Block 37.

Again, to be fair, she didn't buy the Daley line hook line and sinker, but justified her position as only that the lot being empty provided an opportunity to connect the two subways. Of course, the lot was not that empty, and the project was eventually shut down, but she didn't endorse any of the airport express proposals.

[mkohut]

If i could pick somebody .I would have pick former Governor Jim Thompson

[Busjack]

If i could pick somebody .I would have pick former Governor Jim Thompson

He was o.k. until he made it his personal crusade to have his law firm give George Ryan a free defense, to the extent of misrepresenting that Ryan had not been given a last chance to seeing his dying wife, when in fact he did, and got indignant that the prosecution disclosed that fact. Why he thought he owed Ryan something is beyond me.

[jajuan]

WGN Morning News has been reporting all morning as a sidenote to the latest Metra resignation, that former US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald will be a member of Quinn's 15-member RTA oversight commission.

[Busjack]

WGN Morning News has been reporting all morning as a sidenote to the latest Metra resignation, that former US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald will be a member of Quinn's 15-member RTA oversight commission.

That was initially reported, along with George Ranney, someone from IDOT, and Carole Brown. The Daily Herald article, to which I previously linked, seems to have been revised and has the full list.

[jajuan]

That was initially reported, along with George Ranney, someone from IDOT, and Carole Brown. The Daily Herald article, to which I previously linked, seems to have been revised and has the full list.

Thanks Busjack. I couldn't remember if it was mentioned at the same time that Carole Brown was mentioned on here, and I didn't have time this morning to go back and check on it. One thing that did come to mind though is if Fitzgerald's addition is meant by Quinn to be a show of seriousness this time around in doing something to fix transit in both Chicago and the burbs. Fitzgerald has built somewhat of a reputation for himself in going after political corruption through his prosecutions of politicians of both major parties. I wonder if even that is enough to crack through Illinois's lack of political will to streamline the transit boards into only one board like in other big cities.

[Busjack]

Thanks Busjack. I couldn't remember if it was mentioned at the same time that Carole Brown was mentioned on here, and I didn't have time this morning to go back and check on it. One thing that did come to mind though is if Fitzgerald's addition is meant by Quinn to be a show of seriousness this time around in doing something to fix transit in both Chicago and the burbs. Fitzgerald has built somewhat of a reputation for himself in going after political corruption through his prosecutions of politicians of both major parties. I wonder if even that is enough to crack through Illinois's lack of political will to streamline the transit boards into only one board like in other big cities.

You should go up the thread to my comment on "am I too cynical in believing that Fitzgerald's law firm needs the business." Then go to the Tribune's constant references to the Patrick Collins ethics commission after Blago, which Quinn couldn't leverage to get anything through the legislature.

Other than Ranney, who has proposed ineffective stuff, the only one listed that has transit experience is Carole Brown. Now, maybe someone will say that's a plus, but I took it as protection for Claypool. According to this Daily Herald article, the DuPage county board president has come to a similar conclusion about the risk of a Chicago takeover.

The rest of the appointees seem to be subject to the same justification as the appointment process in general--i.e. get someone from each county and they can't complain.

A single transit agency is certainly not on this agenda, and given what we discussed in 2008 about the legislature going contrary to the Auditor General's Report, and the de facto dictator of the House being implicated in this scandal, even Fitzgerald saying that something is wrong will only accomplish things on the margin. If it ever got to the point Jack Franks said of looking a best practices elsewhere, Quinn should have appointed a couple of people from out of state.

[Busjack]

According to the Tribune, Dan Lipinski (D-Daddy) is recommending that the panel take public input and consider abolishing all 4 agencies. Maybe now we have someone with some influence taking the sensible approach we advocate.

But, of course, the IDOT tool said [as the article was revised as I typed] that there would be no public hearings.

[mkohut]

According to the Tribune, Dan Lipinski (D-Daddy) is recommending that the panel take public input and consider abolishing all 4 agencies. Maybe now we have someone with some influence taking the sensible approach we advocate.

But, of course, the IDOT tool said [as the article was revised as I typed] that there would be no public hearings.

I saw it .Of course,Mr Gray Line has to push it there.

IDOT is to stupid to not realize they need Lipinski to get Federal Funds.

Then again IDOT needs reform itself.With the amount of money being spend for salary and benefits instead of roadwork.

[Busjack]

,,,

IDOT is to stupid to realize they need Lipinski to get Federal Funds.

...

CTA at least realized that with regard to Bill Lipinski (D-Hereditary Monarch).^ People were saying on these fora all the time that certain southwest bus routes were maintained only because Bill was bringing home the money and CTA couldn't afford to offend him.

I would contend that because this region has been gerrymandered to send minority congressmen who (except for Lipinski) don't care about transit, we have been getting the short stick, anyway, and consultant money because the feds do not want to allocate actual building money.

However, this does set up whether Patrick Fitzgerald is in charge of this panel, or if it is, which I predicted, a setup where IDOT and Carole Brown are there to protect Claypool's behind and other political fiefdoms.

_________

*I assume you meant to add "not" before "realize."

[Busjack]

In the pathetic joke of the day, the Tribune has a story* that the RTA has some study on how to divide the transit pie, except of course, pointing out that except for discretionary funds to which CTA claims an absolute entitlement, anything else would require legislation, and of course the 3 boards are each going to fight for the whole pie. So, another waste of time.

*Was on and off the home page pretty quickly. At least a half way decent picture of an LED destination sign.

[trainman8119]

In the pathetic joke of the day, the Tribune has a story* that the RTA has some study on how to divide the transit pie, except of course, pointing out that except for discretionary funds to which CTA claims an absolute entitlement, anything else would require legislation, and of course the 3 boards are each going to fight for the whole pie. So, another waste of time.

*Was on and off the home page pretty quickly. At least a half way decent picture of an LED destination sign.

No discretionary for Metra next year. Now there is a surprise !

[Busjack]

No discretionary for Metra next year. Now there is a surprise !

The 3% to Pace is more of a surprise. I didn't think they got anything, and there were reports that what they were promised last year was cut, because CTA cried. Is that a Prince song?

[Busjack]

As mk would put it, the Tribune reports that the clown car continues at the RTA. Not mentioned is that if the votes were 6-6, 5 members were missing. The Cook County Board President's member resigned, but that's still 4 not accounted for.

I guess now all 3 boards have an excuse to be a month late with their budgets, not just Claypool.

Also, given a similar episode last year, I am convinced that Emanuel is doing everything to kill the RTA.

[Busjack]

John Kass may have a point somewhere in today's column about what would happen if the current RTA got more control. At least what he says about Beer Can Chicken conforms to what is said in most of the barbecue shows on public television.

[mkohut]

As mk would put it, the Tribune reports that the clown car continues at the RTA. Not mentioned is that if the votes were 6-6, 5 members were missing. The Cook County Board President's member resigned, but that's still 4 not accounted for.

I guess now all 3 boards have an excuse to be a month late with their budgets, not just Claypool.

Also, given a similar episode last year, I am convinced that Emanuel is doing everything to kill the RTA.

While I agree with you Emanuel is doing his best.There are too many egos involved over who will be able to make appointments.

I can't picture any Suburb College Clown wanting to give up power.

The City Of Chicago isn't big even for Emanuel,Quinn,and Madigan egos.I don't think even if they try to get Northwest Indiana as part of the City Of Chicago it would still be big enough.

[Busjack]

I don't know if they would want NW Indiana, but the (Richard M.) Daley Fellows have their nose in Gary.

The issue is not so much why suburbanites would give up power as why Rahm thinks it is to his advantage to have his appointees put a monkey wrench into the proceedings. The theory behind the supermajority requirements was that they would force the city and suburbs to work together, but apparently Rahm isn't interested in doing so.

This brings up several points:

• I said on a political blog that while Claypool exemplifies what happens when Emanuel actually has control, stuff like the teachers' strike and the only slightly reported RTA instances show how he is petulant if he isn't in control.
• Speaking of control, CTA has never been able to get transportation legislation through without the help of suburban legislators. The 2008 RTA tax increase was shepherded by the state legislators from northern Cook County and southern Lake County. One might also note that the 3 times bills were passed (1973, 1983, and 2008), it was only after the suburban systems were as broke as the CTA, and in the case of the 1983 legislation, most of those under the auspices of the RTA were shut down by 1981, because the RTA couldn't pay them. The CTA almost expressed the attitude that "we run the show, but everyone else should pay for it," and one website operator who was spreading the message "why are there lower rates outside Cook County?" now has a job with them.
• The fact that the suburban legislators are in control of the issue is exemplified by Pace getting set asides off the top. an then that paratransit gets everything it says it needs before anyone else. I think CTA finally figured out who has the power on the transportation committees, so Emanuel decided to fight his fight at the RTA. His 5 votes are not enough to get something passed by 12, though.

[mkohut]

I wouldn't put NW Indiana pass Emanuel ego.He would have Casinos.

Madigan ego would want the patronage jobs.

Then Quinn ego would try to put the brakes on then for not having a License.

Without knowing how many Paratransit trips there are.

Claypool and Emanuel were too stupid to realize money would be taken off the top.They added more riders with the cut on Lincoln.

They certainly had done nothing to add new money.

As i have previous have say about naming rights to stations.was all talk.

Somebody should get Emanuel song You Can't Always Get What You Want by the Rolling Stones