CP has long maintained that there is no real oversight for the city's Department of Transportation or its main feature--the city's bus system, known as Annapolis Transit. Situated at the edge of the city on Chinquapin Round Rd. and improperly oriented toward providing a low level of service to the city's lowest income residents, its director, who frequently takes lengthy vacations, is happy to be off the public and the mayoral and city council radar sight. But now it turns out that the city board which is supposed to be looking over its shoulder--does not even exist! For years, most of the terms of the members listed on the city's web-site had already expired and in one case---one of the members had been dead for months, if not a year or more before the error was corrected--or noticed.
There is now only one member on the transportation board and his term is also...expired. Chuck Weikel a Democratic activist and confidante of the mayor now is called her "alternative transportation consultant" or some such thing to represent him at a conference. Weikel is even spending the night at a hotel in Easton all the way across the Bay, the night before....and it's a one-day conference. I asked Weikel if it is being paid for by the city or not and instead of giving an answer, he subjected me to an immediate barrage of five cynical and snide emails (which he shared with others) including "Perhaps they have a direct bill program with the City? Champagne in my room? Dine & dashing dining? Or perhaps an RNC program for the 'use' of clothing?" That came attached with a page from Priceline.com showing there were rooms available for as little as $37 per night.
Back to the matter at hand, even if there is a full compliment of members on the Transportation Board, it does not mean they will do anything or make any improvements. However, the fact that there are currently no members does tell us a thing or two about the importance of our bus system to the current mayor and city council. Regardless, let's either provide proper oversight through city council or this board, but can we do something? This board is also supposed to provide an annual report to the city. Has this ever happened??
Speaking of which...when CP served as the transportation department's marketing specialist, I wrote and distributed a report of the department's activities, accomplishments and plans each year and gave it to city officials, local business leaders, activists and the news media. That product seems to have ended since I left. Not surprisingly, considering that fact that each year when I prepared the draft for the director (on my own-without her ever asking for such a report), she took her sweet time in approving it--usually weeks of waiting, giving me the distinct impression she never really wanted it published.
Also, did you notice that the transportation department was the only one absent from the most recent city magazine?
See: Transportation Board
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