Well, the knives are out — finally out in the open — for T General Manager Dan Grabauskas. Three MBTA board members have expressed a lack of confidence, essentially in Grabauskas' willingness and ability to keep the public safe. From the letter:
The NTSB Summary of Findings was critical of the MBTA for failing to ensure that's [sic] its fatigue educational awareness program is adequate for purposes of helping avoid the tragic crash that occurred May 28, 2008. The NTSB also cites “the lack of a positive train control system” and “inadequate requirements” for train operators to report signal failures on the Green Line. During the NTSB hearing, NTSB Board member Robert Summwalt said he was “fairly incredulous” that the MBTA does not have a formal system to check whether train operators are obeying signals and following other safety rules. He also spoke to the “lack of safety culture” at the MBTA. Given the report release date was scheduled months in advance, the Board and the public had the right to expect that the General Manager would promptly and fully respond to the NTSB's findings and recommendations.
It is very troubling that we have yet to receive a detailed response from the General Manager, especially since the NTSB is also investigating another major Green Line accident which occurred on May 8, 2009.
I had wished that there were another messenger for public frustration other than Mr. Warmth, Jim Aloisi. And now we have that. There's just no getting around the fact that the NTSB was incredulous that safety measures were not in place to prevent the 2008 Newton Green Line crash:
“Why would the Green Line not have everything possible that is going to prevent the accidents from happening?” said acting NTSB chairman Mark Rosenker. “I don’t understand that as an operator. I just don’t.”
I don't know … I really tend to doubt that the three board members would simply bow to the governor's wishes and just do his bidding willy-nilly. Here are their bios — it's Loux, Williams, and Alvaro who signed the letter. These are folks with real resumes, presumably with reputations to uphold. They don't look like your average hacks to me. Alvaro's a Republican. Are they paid?
So what justifies Sen. Steven Baddour's remarks here?
Senator Steven A. Baddour, a Methuen Democrat and cochairman of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee, said board members are playing politics and called the letter a “cheap shot.’’
“It’s ridiculous,’’ he said. “Obviously, these are Patrick appointees doing the bidding of the governor, and it has nothing to do with his job performance, or his ability to manage a very difficult agency.
“I know it’s a tough election year,’’ he said. “I know the poll numbers are sagging, but we shouldn’t be looking for scapegoats.’’
“Obviously”, Senator? You've got the President/CEO of the Urban League, a Co-chair of the National Business Law Group, and a longtime labor organizer. Are they the governor's sock puppets? Is that what you're saying?
No, the “obvious” reaction is to respond with shock and dismay over a scathing report from a federal watchdog agency.
No comment on the NTSB report, Senator — except to wring your hands, say, “Gosh, it's a really tough job” — and then point the finger at the governor? Is that the best we can do?
What a tremendous diappointment. And if Grabauskas, who used to enjoy a sterling reputation, is the T’s problem, what/who could possibly be the solution?
I think Grabauskas is probably right that this is political (note Aliosi’s comments in the story). But, that doesn’t mean the board members are wrong.
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p>As a rider, I have lost faith in Grabauskas. I’ve also lost faith in the drivers, who make jerky stops or take turns too fast on the Green Line.
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p>The T just sucks. I’ve been riding it since I was 14 (30 years), and now I usually ride the commuter rail (the jewel of the system, in theory), and there are frequent delays (less lately, it should be said) and more grinding stops.
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p>Too many people are asleep at the wheel.
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p>
To: Jim Aloisi
From: Jim Aloisi
Re: Dan Grabauskas
I file this under “decent people doing the right thing for the wrong reason”.
Janice Loux has been on the MBTA board of directors for nearly a decade. What has she done over the past decade to addess these safety issues? What has she done to try and fix the MBTA’s financial situation?
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p>Please note that I respect Ms. Loux personally and think she has done a tremendous job winning union membership for thousands of underpaid and overworked service employees in the Boston area. On those issues she should be a hero on this site.
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p>But as an MBTA Board member, I don’t remember hearing much about Janice Loux condemning the growing budget deficits over the years, or talking about how the MBTA debt was spiraling out of control. It wasn’t until Patrick came into office that Loux — who headed the search committee that recommended Grabauskas for the job — started criticizing the job Grabauskas was doing.
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p>As for Williams and Alvaro, who are more recent appointees, I have the same question: As members of the MBTA Board of directors, what have they done to address these issues?
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p>This is not to absolve Grabuaskas of any wrong-doing. Goodness knows he has not done the job at the MBTA that he did at the RMV.
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p>But I will be more than happy to retract everything I said if someone can point out to me what constructive steps Loux, Williams, and Alvaro have taken to try and fix these problems, prior to sending this letter to Aloisi.
The article says she was appointed to the Board by the Gov.
But it was a re-appointment. She’s been the board since at least 2000.
Folks tend to forget that the Change to Win Coalition (UNITE-HERE, SEIU, Teamsters) is a faction of corporate labor. Loux’ predecessor was on board early with Bill Weld in 1989, and the Hotel Workers stayed through Romney with Reoublican candidates.
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p>Folks also tend to forget that Patrick’s campaign was designed as a play-for-play clone of the first Weld campaign.
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p>Hence there is no inconsistency on Loux’ part. Constructive steps have nothing to do with it; it’s a simple matter of sucking up to (perceived) power.
File this under “while we’re at it”. I’ve never actually looked at who serves on the MBTA BofD before. It’s got a “rainbow coalition” feel to it, but I think it’s pretty clearly missing some perspectives:
1) How about, you know, the 1.1 million poor schmucks who actually ride on the T everyday? Don’t we have a “T riders union” or something? Maybe these people use the T every day, but judging by their careers and age, I’m going to say I doubt it. And even if they do, it’s clear their role is to represent “constituencies” other than riders generally.
2) While we’re speaking about age, could we maybe get someone under age 60? I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but judging by my experience on any train, subway or bus I have ever taken, these people are older than >95% of the people on board. Apologies if I over-estimated the age of any members, but I think you see my point.
3) Someone with management experience, particularly in a unionized industry. The Carmen are out of control and labor costs are one of the biggest problems facing the agency. The Board would benefit from having someone with experience in actually negotiating with a union (rather than just giving away the store, as the practice has been). Alvaro, from his resume, is a start, but I don’t think his company had to negotiate with the Teamsters or Steelworkers.
3a) Fewer lawyers (and I say this as a lawyer). Unless it’s a lawyer versed in environmental and land use law, as the T has to deal with this b.s. everyday.
4) Someone with experience or expertise in transportation issues. You know, someone who knows their ass from a hole in the ground about how to “run a railroad.” The one person with transport on his resume here last worked in the industry in the 1960s on what was then the MTA (a cynic would say his “constituency” is all the middle-management hacks). Preferably, it could be someone with experience outside Massachusetts. The rest of the country, and indeed the world, have aspects to their transport systems that might be worth emulating. This collection of members reminds me of all the “nationwide searches” for state government positions that always results in a former state rep being selected.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/30/governor_turns_up_heat_on_mbta_chief/?page=2
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p>Planners, engineers and accountants will be a welcome change from party stalwarts, “community representatives” and courthouse-gang lawyers (sometimes all wrapped up into a single person). Maybe these new directors will be willing to make some hard choices and stick by them: no more raises we can’t afford; no more featherbedding work rules and free-flowing OT; get rid of so-and-so’s cousin and his b.s. job; eliminate underused transit stops and bus routes, etc.
This should have happened years ago.
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p>Also, regardless of whether or not Patrick was playing politics (no idea — though, given the fact that this should have happened at least a year ago, I find it hard to come to that conclusion), I don’t think it’s possible to play a worse kind of political game than Murray (who’s had the kindest words for Charley Baker) and her very own Baddour. Maybe they could grow up and, instead of trying to take down Patrick at the knees, work on Massachusetts’s real, pressing problems in a responsible, adult-like fashion.
The silence that greeted the scathing report from the NTSB (absolutely the right choice of words, Charlie!) is deafening. Silence from everybody. Especially those in charge. The MBTA, Mr. Aloisi, the Governor’s office. And, of course, the lege. Even here at BMG.
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p>Shock and dismay is the appropriate reaction, and I’ve seen none of it.
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p>I think Mr. Grabauskas is being made a fall-guy. I think he should resign and walk away. He’s being asked to do an impossible job. Exactly how should he fund any improvements, given the debt service imposed on his agency? He can’t get any more funding, he can’t cut any labor costs, he can’t reduce the debt service burden. The agency is designed to fail — why should he go down with it?
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p>The MBTA is filled with overpaid patronage hires — yet the culture still rises to defend even the lowliest $50K+/year floor-sweeper when anybody suggests that the payroll costs are out of control. The MBTA pension scam would be hilarious if it weren’t so damned infuriating for the rest of us who have been screwed by the successful con-game.
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p>Why the heck is Mr. Aloisi still in the employ of this state? From the Globe story:
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p>The transportation secretary is BARELY CIVIL to the director of the MBTA? And you call this a functioning administration?
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p>Trolleys are running into each other on an antique. Trolley drivers are so young they can’t rent automobiles at Logan (some only 18, just last spring). Management that ignores bright red flags from the NTSB just like its trolley drivers run red lights. Commuter rail that can’t figure out what trains depart from what platforms (never mind when). Multimillion-dollar electronic communication boards that remind us that we can’t smoke.
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p>It is LONG PAST TIME for the Governor Patrick to kick some serious ass. Mr. Aloisi should have never been appointed to this post, and he should be fired now.
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p>How the heck am I supposed to vote to put these keystone-cops back in office for another term? Am I supposed to just hold my nose in the voting booth? “Vote for Deval” because everybody else is so much worse?
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p>Is there any reason to suppose anything will change if Governor Patrick is re-elected?
How is this Aloisi’s fault? Isn’t he the guy trying to change the situation?
then WTF has he been doing? Seriously? Has he implemented one driver per train yet? If not, why not? Is less money being spent on OT? Has he tried to modify the ridiculously onerous conditions of the CLF and diability settlements?
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p>And don’t give me the standard excuses. The simple fact is, he doesn’t have the stones to take on the Carmen and the hacks, just like his predecessors. And Deval doesn’t want him making waves before the election either. Lebovridge tried to rein in the toll collectors and he got canned. The day he slaughters some political sacred cow (n.b. — slaughters, not tinkers with — as the police details were indeed tinkered with, not slaughtered), is the day I will see him as part of the solution. Isn’t he supposed to be the one who knows where all the bodies are buried?
insufficiently pissed off the Carmen? Really? He didn’t take them on?
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p>In what world?
It’s easy to piss them off. Hell, they get rightously indignant about anything. But he only got the most egregious things taken care of:
* 23-and-out for future employees
* GIC health insurance
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p>No action on:
* pensions for current employees
* work rules / management rights — including the need for two drivers on all cars. When they roll out 3-car Green Line trains, I bet there will have to be three drivers on each train: one to drive the train; two to play Sudoku.
* Reducing OT (and absenteeism)
* Getting rid of the patronage hires
* Wage freeze (as the other unions and non-union employees have agreed to)
he still hasn’t made me any delicious gooey chocolate chip cookies.
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p>Has any governor done as much as Patrick’s been able to do to chip away at unfair perks? Heck, didn’t Cellucci give ’em the farm back in 1998?
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p>In your critique is the point that this is an Augean stable. I agree. It’s not all going to get done at once, but I would hope that getting the MBTA more under the gov’s control is going to be a big part of this. Again, we’ve never gotten this far before.
You wrote “Again, we’ve never gotten this far before.”
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p>I’ve lived here since 1974.
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p>I’ve NEVER seen the MBTA be this bad.
I said he should be fired.
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p>The transportation agencies are in utter disarray. Where is Mr. Aloisi’s bold plan to implement the policies of this “cornerstone of Patrick’s policy agenda?”
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p>Mr. Aloisi is the wrong guy for this position, he should never have been appointed, and he should be fired now.
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p>I’m sick and tired of reading about the legion of people who he’s “barely civil with” — or not speaking to, or whatever.
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p>Where is the leadership in this utterly dysfunctional transportation organization? Who is stating the vision, mission, goals, priorities, and policies? Who is demanding that this team put aside their differences, focus on the task at hand, and get the job done?
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p>When the scathing report from the NTSB was issued, Mr. Aloisi’s response was to point fingers at his subordinate. You call that “leadership?
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p>I wanted hear Mr. Aloisi or Governor Patrick say something like:
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p>Instead, I heard this:
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p>Maybe you like high-ranking officials who take public shots at subordinates like this. I don’t.
Your line of reasoning is completely incoherent. NTSB points out big fat problem at MBTA; Grabauskas slow or indifferent in responding; Aloisi’s hair is on fire; you blame … Aloisi — who was brought in explicitly to shake things up.
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p>Nope, don’t get it.
What sort of “response” should Mr. Grabouskas have made?
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p>The MBTA doesn’t have enough money to buy paperclips, never mind fund the infrastructure changes that will solve the safety issues. If he even hints at addressing any of the myriad of personnel issues that aggravate the situation, he’ll be crucified by the workers, their unions, the hacks who benefit from putting them on the payroll, and the entire industry of lobbyists, attorneys, and consultants who profit from the current mess.
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p>What would you have said if Mr. Grabouskas had stepped forward and said:
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p>I think everybody involved is more concerned about pointing fingers at everyone else than about actually solving the problems.
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p>I think, and wrote, that Mr. Grabouskas should resign. Now. Do you think that will solve the problem?
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p>Do you really think Mr. Grabouskas is the problem here?
$50k? If only. 440+ people pulled down six figures at the MBTA last year. And when you compare their gross pay to weekly rates, you can see that a huge part of this is an absurd amount of overtime.
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p>As a point of comparison, the AG’s office and the Suffolk DA’s Office (where the majority of employees are lawyers), there are only 18 employees combined who made over $100k. Look through the other agencies and you will likewise see few public employees making this much money — doctors in the health and medical departments, investment managers on the retirement boards, etc.