To: Governor Charlie Baker
Stop the Tyranny of Gov. Charlie Baker and Move to Collaborative Leadership for Public Access to ...
1. Do not tell agencies to spend resources reviewing regulations when we are proud of our state's distinctiveness from the federal government. Respect state's rights.
2. Do not put one person in charge of public transportation. Instead, restore an independent, diverse, and robust board of directors. Respect communities of decision-makers.
2. Do not put one person in charge of public transportation. Instead, restore an independent, diverse, and robust board of directors. Respect communities of decision-makers.
Why is this important?
By executive order, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has directed all state agencies to review nearly all regulations with the mandate that none should exceed federal requirements. Baker wants to dismantle and dumb down regulations governing the state's water and air quality standards, worker safety requirement, and health regulations.
This will hurt businesses that are civic-minded with responsible best practices while rewarding the few that cut corners. Baker acts as if throwing every regulation up in the air will be good for businesses. Baker wants only regulations that do not "unduly and adversely affect Massachusetts citizens and customers of the Commonwealth."
Moving on to public transportation, Governor Baker ignored the MBTA during the blizzards of 2015. Given no respect, the general manager Beverly Scott resigned. When the MBTA was running again, Baker called for all members of the independent MBTA Board of Directors to resign. Baker, a former CEO and in a command-and-control approach where the buck stops with him, called for the formation of a financial control board composed entirely of the Governor's handpicked individuals.
My family and I want access to affordable public transportation, clean water and clean air.
Footnote: M.T.A. by Jackie Steiner and Bess Lomax Hawes
Let me tell you the story of a man named Charlie
On a dark and fateful day
He put ten cents in his pocket and he kissed his loving family
And he went to ride the MTA.
Did he ever return? No, he never returned
And his fate is still unlearned
He may ride forever ‘neath the streets of Boston
He’s the man who never returned.
This song is based on the history of Boston's transit system. Called the M.T.A in 1949; today it's simply called the T. Trouble for Charlie was he had the dime to get on train but not the nickel to get off. If only his wife had handed Charlie a nickel instead of a sandwich his fate would not still be "unlearned." Prior to 1949, Boston's public transit system was privatized. When private businesses failed to make a profit at running the system, they sold it back to Boston for a profit. The nickel charge was added to pay off the private investors.
Today's governor, a former businessman, is once again taking the traditional command-and-control, one man ultimately responsible approach instead of a robust collaborative participatory approach to managing a very complex and dynamic system known as the MBTA, where the rider passes are fondly called "Charlie Cards." Let's consider a MBTA turnstile outside Baker's office, a dime to get in and dollar to get out, complete with special customer fares and better treatment for citizens.
This will hurt businesses that are civic-minded with responsible best practices while rewarding the few that cut corners. Baker acts as if throwing every regulation up in the air will be good for businesses. Baker wants only regulations that do not "unduly and adversely affect Massachusetts citizens and customers of the Commonwealth."
Moving on to public transportation, Governor Baker ignored the MBTA during the blizzards of 2015. Given no respect, the general manager Beverly Scott resigned. When the MBTA was running again, Baker called for all members of the independent MBTA Board of Directors to resign. Baker, a former CEO and in a command-and-control approach where the buck stops with him, called for the formation of a financial control board composed entirely of the Governor's handpicked individuals.
My family and I want access to affordable public transportation, clean water and clean air.
Footnote: M.T.A. by Jackie Steiner and Bess Lomax Hawes
Let me tell you the story of a man named Charlie
On a dark and fateful day
He put ten cents in his pocket and he kissed his loving family
And he went to ride the MTA.
Did he ever return? No, he never returned
And his fate is still unlearned
He may ride forever ‘neath the streets of Boston
He’s the man who never returned.
This song is based on the history of Boston's transit system. Called the M.T.A in 1949; today it's simply called the T. Trouble for Charlie was he had the dime to get on train but not the nickel to get off. If only his wife had handed Charlie a nickel instead of a sandwich his fate would not still be "unlearned." Prior to 1949, Boston's public transit system was privatized. When private businesses failed to make a profit at running the system, they sold it back to Boston for a profit. The nickel charge was added to pay off the private investors.
Today's governor, a former businessman, is once again taking the traditional command-and-control, one man ultimately responsible approach instead of a robust collaborative participatory approach to managing a very complex and dynamic system known as the MBTA, where the rider passes are fondly called "Charlie Cards." Let's consider a MBTA turnstile outside Baker's office, a dime to get in and dollar to get out, complete with special customer fares and better treatment for citizens.