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- From: "Eugene Bradley" <http://profiles.yahoo.com/eegenebradley>
- Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:50:27 -0000
All:
I echo Mr. Zapelli's comments on the need to make our voices heard
directly to VTA management. Particularly, at next Thursday's Board
meeting in where-I-live. VTA needs to hear from _ALL OF US_ on the need
for sunshine laws for a more transparent VTA, hybrid buses, and VTA's
long-range transportation plan, VTP 2035.
The agenda for next Thursday's VTA Board meeting is now available:
http://www.vta.org/inside/boards/packets/2008/03_mar/index.html
Those of you who expressed concern on Hydrogen buses need to bring the
concerns expressed here to the VTA Board. Particularly, the poor
reliability of the H buses VTA has, and the need to press VTA to get a
waiver from CARB to have diesel hybrid buses similar to what San
Francisco has. This can be brought up early in the meeting as Agenda
item 8.
As for the need to have sunshine laws for a more open, transparent VTA:
this can be brought up in agenda items 9 (VTA Board Chair Liz Kniss'
report) and 10 (the Policy Advisory Committee report). Mr. Zapelli was
kind enough to bring up the issue at the February 7 VTA Board meeting.
Let's follow up with our own proposal next Thursday. Good comments on
it so far but more are needed. Let's finalize the proposal on Monday
morning 12:01am.
Comments on VTP 2035 can be made in Agenda Item 25 - when the VTA
approves sending its draft project list to the regional transit
planners in Oakland (MTC).
One item of concern is Agenda Item 5 - approval of a 10% salary
increase for VTA General Counsel (chief lawyer) Suzanne Gifford. No
evaluation criteria was given in the proposal. While this was tabled
last year, this is still cause for concern given VTA is still over $2
billion in the red.
EVENT: VTA Board Meeting
WHEN: March 6, 2008 starting at 5:30pm
WHERE: County Supervisors Chambers, 70 W. Hedding Street, where-I-live.
Get there via the 61, 62, and 66 bus lines, light rail, and the 180 and
181 express bus lines.
Tips for making your voice heard at VTA Board meetings:
http://www.vtaridersunion.org/DIY/speakout.html
Can't make next Thursday's VTA Board meeting? Other ways to make your
voice heard to VTA's decision makers:
http://www.vtaridersunion.org/DIY/vtaboard.html
and for contacting VTA General Manager Michael Burns:
http://www.vtaridersunion.org/DIY/index.html#vtagm
I'll be at the La Raza Roundtable meeting this evening
(http://www.larazaroundtable.com) in East where-I-live informing folks on
what's going on, and how to make their voices heard.
More on what needs to be done this evening. Remember: VTA won't listen
and act unless you make your voice heard and heard often. I strongly
urge you to be there next Thursday and make sure VTA hears from you.
Eugene Bradley
Founder, Santa Clara VTA Riders Union
http://www.vtaridersunion.org/
Yahoo!/AOL IM: eegenebradley
(408)888-2208
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