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| Santa Clara VTA | Riders Union |
KLIV News Radio 1590AM broadcast the following free speech editorial regarding new VTA General Manager Michael Burns. The Free Speech Editorial aired on the station throughout the day on August 1, 2005:
New Valley Transportation Authority General Manager Michael Burns has many challenges ahead of him.
One challenge will be to boost public transit ridership in a Valley built around the automobile. VTA has already lost 1/3 of its public transit ridership since 2001. While VTA blames the dot-com bust for the ridership losses, its fare hikes and service cuts since 2001 are a prime reason why you often see empty buses and trains throughout the Valley.
Another challenge for Burns will be in implementing new ideas on a Board of Directors that is not accountable to you. His $290,000 a year salary - 1/3 more than his predecessor Peter Cipolla - places him on a short leash with the VTA's Board of Directors, the City of San Jose, and business interests. Remember: Cipolla was ousted not because of his record as VTA General Manager, but when he mentioned that the San Jose BART extension will cost $5 billion of your tax dollars – more than VTA's price quote of $4.2 billion.
Michael Burns is known for turning around San Francisco's MUNI after its troubles in 1998. A proposal to immediately restore transit fares and service to pre-2000 levels is a good start for Burns to turn around VTA.
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