09
Wed, Oct

Metro's Leadership Fails Again: Contract Scandal and Frequent Accidents Demand Urgent Change

LOS ANGELES

THAT'S ALL FOLKS! -

1. This week's headline in the LA Times--"Metro is sued over contract for Subway Cars"--Group alleges agency didn't follow rules in awarding $730 million deal. Rebid is sought.

2. Yesterday a Metro train hit a car in East LA and derailed...really? again?--how does this engender trust with the people who need public transportation?

The only question here - when is Metro's Board going to actually exercise their power to provide effective oversight and either fire or pay off Metro's current leadership---or should I say lack of leadership--and replace them? Every week it’s another example of incompetence, ineptness and lack of professionalism. How are the residents of this city supposed to trust Metro's current executive team with these incidents occurring on a regular weekly basis. The only skill Stephanie seems to have is managing the Board--clearly not being the CEO of Metro--she has no idea how to be a leader...one last question--why is it that every community that comes into contact with Metro hates dealing with or interacting with the agency? --and that perception is unanimous.

These are serious questions--that require serious answers and immediate actions. In the private sector--any Board allowing this to happen on a regular basis would be sued for negligence in their official capacities---and whether this could actually happen or not, it does make one wonder why the Board's behavior seems to show a cavalier disregard for the public's safety, needs and fiscal responsibility--especially in leaving Metro's current leadership in place. Stephanie is not a CEO ---and her handpicked executives clearly show they have neither the talent nor the ability to do the job. How much longer is this going to be allowed to continue--and how many more people need to be hurt,  how many more accidents have to happen, how much more money needs to be squandered before all of these individuals are replaced?

 

(Fredric D. Rosen is a retired Businessman who has served on multiple corporate (both public and private) and charitable boards. He was Ticketmaster's CEO for 16 years and was responsible for making it the leading ticket company in the world.)

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