RTD Officials’ Responsibility

Within the past six months, there have been dozens of articles in your paper concerning the mismanagement and sloppy record-keeping of the RTD. In fact, the L. A. County district attorney recently charged that certain people may have bilked the RTD out of $5 million in what might be one of the largest fraud cases ever prosecuted by his office. Further, in June it was announced that an audit report indicated overcharges of $50,000 by a Metro Rail consultant and $75,000 by a Washington, D. C., lobbying firm hired by the RTD.

Long Beach City Councilwoman Jan Hall has been president of the Southern California Rapid Transit District (RTD) since 1986, so it would appear that some responsibility must attach to the position. If my store was repeatedly robbed, I would certainly expect answers as well as remedial action; however, after the second or third robbery, I’d be replacing the manager. People such as Mrs. Hall who accept lofty positions must also accept the responsibility that goes with those positions.

Rather, I recently heard Mrs. Hall state that her leadership role with the RTD helps to qualify her as a potential mayoral candidate to run our city of Long Beach.

--CARLA MARKS

Long Beach