Reading the article on TriMet in Saturday's paper reminded me again
of one reason things never change ("Shake-up pushed for embattled
TriMet," March 23).
The excuse of giving managers more money not because they have done
anything special but because they might leave is used over and over by
taxpayer-funded agencies as a justification for raises. But when these
entities fail to implement effective policies or can't provide adequate
services within their budget limitations, why do we want to make sure
that their decision-makers are kept?
I bet there are lots of qualified people ready to fill the shoes of
the rare manager who would actually give up his or her job without a
salary increase in tough times. If this happened, it might even open up
the door to fresh thinking.
JOAN STEARNS
Southwest Portland
State Rep. Chris Gorsek's House Bill 3316 to allow the region's local
governments to appoint members to TriMet's board of directors does not
go far enough.
The directors should be elected by the citizens of TriMet's service
area. Political appointments would just lead to another insulated group
influenced by favoritism and cronyism.
This is, after all, a travesty perpetrated by TriMet officials on a
tri-county area, and it should be solved by the people who have suffered
at their hands.
ED ZUMWALT
Milwaukie
The board of directors for a public transit agency should be elected by the voters in the transit service area.
School board members are elected by their district's voters. Why not
give the same power to the voters for transit agency boards?
PAULETTE ROSSI
Northeast Portland
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