University of Texas Tower
Cap Met Villainizes Union
RECEIVED Sat., Sept. 19, 2009
Dear Editor,
In the Sept. 18 article on Cap Metro's budget [“Riding to the End of the Line,” News], Leander Mayor John Cowman said that ATU 1091's leaders had a "beef with the voters, not Capital Metro.”
The 2004 referendum authorized a rail start-up of $60 million, not the current $105 million. And the same voters approved a yearly budget of $2 million, not the current $6 million. Cap Metro's management shot a hole in its own budget and tried to cover it up by illegally cooking the books. Management got caught, and now they need someone to blame. They picked the union.
The union does not have a beef with the voters. By default the union has become the last line of defense between the voters' pocketbooks and the backroom bureaucrats who are willing to spend anything to complete their vanity project. Congratulations, Cap Metro! You have taken a scruffy band of drivers and mechanics and turned us into fiscal guerrillas. Viva la revolución!
In the Sept. 18 article on Cap Metro's budget [“Riding to the End of the Line,” News], Leander Mayor John Cowman said that ATU 1091's leaders had a "beef with the voters, not Capital Metro.”
The 2004 referendum authorized a rail start-up of $60 million, not the current $105 million. And the same voters approved a yearly budget of $2 million, not the current $6 million. Cap Metro's management shot a hole in its own budget and tried to cover it up by illegally cooking the books. Management got caught, and now they need someone to blame. They picked the union.
The union does not have a beef with the voters. By default the union has become the last line of defense between the voters' pocketbooks and the backroom bureaucrats who are willing to spend anything to complete their vanity project. Congratulations, Cap Metro! You have taken a scruffy band of drivers and mechanics and turned us into fiscal guerrillas. Viva la revolución!
Clifton Smith
