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Dems want to get Charlie on the MBTA
By adamg on Thu, 06/13/2019 - 12:50pm
Yeah, it's a publicity stunt (and possible list-building exercise) by the Massachusetts Democratic Party, but this petition urging Gov. Baker to actually ride the T is certainly a valid question when the governor is saying the T is moving in the right direction right after the Red Line pretty much stopped moving at all due to that car that derailed and took out key signaling equipment with it (even Mitt Romney took the T once, even if he only rode for one stop and was unable to say how much a ride cost).
It's so bad, even Baker's BFF, Marty Walsh, who rides the T about as often as the governor, and who once said MBTA problems were overblown by whiner reporters, called the Red and Green Line derailments unacceptable.
At-large City Councilor Michelle Wu, who actually takes the T to work, is calling for putting local representatives back on the board that runs the authority as a first step:
Government exists precisely to help solve collective problems like this, but it requires leadership & accountability.
But as the politicians talk about the T, here's Jennifer O'Mahony, who commutes from Quincy into town, on her Red Line ride today:
It took me over an hour from Quincy Adams to Park St. Usually its a half hour.
And here's Laura:
Quincy Center to Downtown Crossing took 45-50 minutes. And that was after waiting almost 15 minutes for a train. Normal ride is 25 minutes.
Free tagging:
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Comments
the next time
The Governor and the Mayor ride the T will be the first time.
Mayor Marty should pledge to take the T once a week, red line or bus to City Hall.
solidarity for all of the rest of us.
Short Walk
The Governor lives a 10 minute walk from the Swampscott station, which has 28 daily inbound trains to Boston. While he's not at the State House every day, he certainly can ride the train occasionally.
Comparing a ride on the
Comparing a ride on the commuter rail (with its wide cushy seating, bathrooms, and views) is like comparing the Ritz to a sleazebag drug motel on the on the cape in winter.
Politicians should take the local trains and buses - disguised and without reporters. The redline has deteriorated considerably in the last 10 years! And the stations look feel filthy dark and dank.
He can do both
CR to South Station, Red Line to Park. It'd do him good. Hell, it'd do US good.
For Baker, it would be commuter rail
to North Station, and either Orange to State or Green to Park St.
Either way, yes, he should spend a week on the T to get around.
Freaking embarrassing
The stations are pretty much nasty. The updated Government Center station should be a minimum standard.
Views
Some pretty nice views from the Red Line going over the Charles River, as well as some views of Dorchester Bay and the Neponset River further south.
The Mattapan trolley and the Green Line D branch have some pleasant scenery too, and can't you see the ocean from some places on the Blue Line?
It boils down to security. Dems need a better pledge
I rather the Gov not spend millions on a pointless photo-op. With security these day, it would be a pretty penny. Dems need a better pledge, like reducing the transportation department's patronage hires to below 50%. Just like Baker's Department of Revenue, his Department of Transportation is nearly 100% patronage
Is being the governor of MA
Is being the governor of MA significantly more dangerous today than it was back when Michael Dukakis was doing it (and taking the T to work every day)?
Did Deval ride the T?
I'd guess yes, assuming he could figure out a way to fit the Escalade down the stairs.
What about the Dems?
Perhaps they could push for their own party members to also take the T? We have two Democratic senators, when's the last time they took the T? Why aren't they doing or at least saying something during this crisis?
I'm all for every politician commutting via the T, it'd set a good example and force politicians to deal with the same shit their constituents deal with but alas seems we're still just playing team show politics, sigh.
You do know...
You do know that they work in DC, right?
Metro
Warren is mostly in Iowa these days. Given all the problems with DC's Metro it would help considerably if all federal representatives were forced to the public transportation in wherever they might be.
In many ways the Metro is in worse shape compared to the T. And in DC they can't use the "First Subway" excuse the MBTA is so fond of noting.
Yes, and ...
Did you see the video of Warren running for a train? She takes transit where it is available.
Yes and...
I also saw her video saying I'm gonna git me a beer.
With hee nothing is staged.
Everything is.
And not to mention
and not to mention that I seem to remember from grade school civics class that the Federal government, which is where senators do their thing, does not in general run the MBTA.
Dems are every bit a part of the problem
They are if anything a BIGGER part of the problem and the problem across the state.
We should make them all pay for their parking and yank their travel reimbursements by amending the state constitution.
Or putting out an initiative petition to yank their travel funds and issue each the transit pass they need. It would get their attention. Can't wait for the "emergency" closed special session to undo that!
If you run you ride...
https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/03/26/elizabeth-warren-running-catch-tr...
I think she gets it.
It's a great video
My first question watching the video was "why is TMZ chasing Warren?" But the guys commentary at the end was great, essentially being the utter amazement that Warren wasn't winded by the whole thing.
That said, she does run from the press a lot.
Really?
Examples?
What really?
You mean Warren dodging the press? If you don't know about that, you mustn't follow the traditional press (the Globe, the Herald, Channels 4, 5, 7, 25, and whatever the NBC affiliate calls itself.) They all note her ability to dodge their questions. Here's a whole story from Politico on the topic of her relationship with the press.
I mean, it's a tradition on Capitol Hill of creating way of running from reporters, a true measure of bipartisan action. Unfortunately, the goal is to avoid answering questions, so from a citizen's perspective, it's not a good tradition.
It's the 9:55
Waquoit the sea lion, right on schedule.
Huh?
Unless you are confused and want to blame bluenu for mentioning the TMZ video, you are making no sense. Swirly asked for proof of Warren evading the press, and I provided an article explaining why she got her reputation.
Or it could be that you love to hate. Whatever.
Maybe everyone waiting for the Red Line
could have a sandwich to hand to Charlie as he passes by.
GREAT IDEA
I think that is a great idea, not only should the Mayor and the governor; it should be any other politician who is responsible for transportation should be required at least once a week should ride the MBTA or at least bi-weekly nothing less.
The public should be made aware what line this person is it going to be taken, so there could be a meet and greet with the public, Providing all safety measures are taken.
I thank and commend the Police Department for having Coffee with the Cop, basically representatives from area districts, it could be a police officer, the captain, lieutenant and sometimes even the commissioner meet and greet people at a local eatery. If law enforcement can meet and greet the community why can't others.
I think we can coint it "Traveling On the T"
You politicians get your ass on the T and talk with the public.
It's a shame
We collectively wasted an opportunity to talk about this. Jay Gonzalez's 2018 campaign for governor -- which, to be sure, never caught fire -- was to a remarkable degree focused on underinvestment in transportation infrastructure. But the Globe readily endorsed Baker for reelection, saying that "when the public transit system crashed after a historic snowfall in early 2015, he pressed for a series of fiscal and management reforms that have put the MBTA on the right track." Now the Globe is editorializing today that Baker has to fix the MBTA. I don't have any interest in relitigating the 2018 election but we ought to be able to maintain some attention on this critical issue beyond blithe assurances that everything will be taken care of and it won't cost any money.
Yeah
But the problem with Gonzales is he was as likable as a wet paper bag.
I liked what he said but I did not believe he would make a good Governor as a whole, so I wrote in "Rose Nylund" in (I would never vote for baker regardless)
Agreed!
The Globe really showed a lack of judgement with that endorsement. No politician is entitled to a second (let alone third) term absent any risk taking. Tough choices sometimes have to be made, and our Govt. has to act! We need a more deliberative Legislature and a Gov. willing to propose/try new things.
ALL those with power to improve the T should have to ride
Every time I suggest this I get a bunch of blowback, but I don't care. How about MBTA managers and employees taking the T and paying for it out of their own pockets? Apart from the ones who start up the buses and trains in the morning and the ones that put 'em to bed at night, why would this represent any more hardship than it does for the rest of us? How about our state legislators? Sure, many of them come from areas not serviced by the MBTA, but guess what, so do many people who work in Boston. Let 'em feel the pain, they'd find solutions quickly enough.
Dukakis took the T everyday
when he was Governor, it didn't change a thing.
actually
He did. Remember Dukakis was around long before he was Governor.
State Rep (10th Dist) 1963 to 1965
State Rep (13th Dist) 1965 to 1971
Governor 1975-1979
Govenor 1983 to 1991
That's nearly 3 decades of service. and for 15, he was governor.
Here's some things, T-related, that happened during his term(s)
1. Commuter Rail. While in the 1960s it was run by B&M, B&A, NYP and other railroads, under his watch the MBTA began to purchase lines as each one of the carriers went bankrupt.
2. Staying with Commuter Rail, it was during his terms that the CR took over the Old Colony Railroad, which pretty much is most of the South Shore CR lines today.
3. Braintree Extension - This was planned in the 70s, built 78-83.
4. Orange Line North - While he was still a state rep, this extension was built between 1969 and 1971
5. Boeing Cars - While these were lemons, during Dukakis' first term as Governor, he succeeded at phasing out the trolleys and implementing LRVs
6. Orange Line South - This was planned and constructed during his tenure in the 1980s
7. Orange Line cars - These were purchased and deployed at the end of his first tenure 1978-1979
8. Blue Line cars - These were purchased and deployed at the end of his first tenure 1978-1979
there's more but thats all I can remember off the top of my head
You could argue that he didn't single handedly do any of this, but it takes a leader to push this stuff thru (something baker as failed to do)
I should also mention that Dukakis, after leaving MA, became the head of Amtrak. So the dude's all about trains.
Holy cow did you just own
Holy cow did you just own RichM. I hope he is embarrassed.
Not embarrassed
Just impressed. :)
He has a much better memory than I, although I was just a kid when Duke was Governor. It was pretty cool to see the Governor on the train. I even said hello to him a few times.
One little thing
He was never the head of Amtrak. He was just on the board. But yeah, the Duke was and is all about transit.
North/SouthStation Connector!
Dukakis is also pushing for a connection between North and South station. He's a total trainophile.
Good for the Democrats now nominate someone palatable
Baker is an easy target for defeat if only the Democrats would nominate someone palatable. President Trump got over a million votes here. Many of those Trump voters dislike Baker. They will show up and eagerly vote for someone else they can tolerate. Add in the Democrats who will only support a Democrat. Baker has no base and presides over scandals galore so the undecideds/unenrolled could easily be swayed.
The Democrat nominee should focus on undoing Baker's scandals while avoiding the polarizing national issues, most beyond a Governor's control. This should be a cakewalk but I fear the Dem nominee won't be able to resist advocating for
partialfull-birth abortion, the Green New Deal and sanctuary state status. That will once again make Baker a "hold your nose and vote for him" candidate. There will be plenty of time for the Democrat to "evolve" after they win.Wow!
Did you get your talking points orders today?
Full birth abortion? It is almost as if you have no idea how a woman's body works ... or what one looks like.
Hey now
That’s hardly fair. Not only has he seen them, I’d bet Fish has dozens of women buried beneath his basement.
God, you're such a toddler
Lose the stale, infantile Dubya-era taunts.
Do you ever tell the truth? About anything?
I really hope you fully feel the consequences of your poisoned attitudes some day, and that you continue to feel them for as long as you continue to cling to them.
I don’t want my Governor riding the T
Governor of Massachusetts is a major executive position with plenty of responsibility. I want my Governor to have Good Instincts and Good Ideas, not be a normal person who does unremarkable things like following politics, watching sports, scooping out his gutters, posting on the internet, planning a vacation, or saying things like “I can’t even... Really? Really???” Oh yeah, and I sure as hell don’t want my governor riding on the T.
Look at the people on the T. Do we really think someone who rides the T would be full of ideas and make a good Governor? I understand a politician trying to show that he has a “common touch” but we should not aspire to these qualities in who we elect.
It’s pretty obvious what the problems are with the T. If you have to ride it to grasp the full effect of these problems then you have a very pedestrian IQ and should not be in charge of people.
the people who ride the T
Are you talking about the students, faculty, and graduates of MIT, Harvard, BU, Northeastern, Emerson, Simmons ... ?
Indeed
It’s like the old saying about people that show up to jury duty are the ones not smart enough to get out of jury duty.
Yeah. Right.
Love to see how you get out of jury duty. Bone spurs?
Besides - the smart people just go do their civic duty because it means a paid day off where you will very likely get booted by noon. Last time I had jury duty, I was swimming at Nahant by lunch time.
Jury duty in Middlesex County
Jury duty in Middlesex County is a cakewalk compared to JD in Suffolk County.
What on earth are you talking about?
Jury duty in Suffolk is one day/one trial. I go when summoned pretty much every three years like clockwork and it's always been a single day, usually out right around lunch, as Swirly described.
Pretty much the same
I've lived in both counties, had JD 3 times in each.
The only time it took a whole day was in Lowell. Otherwise it was just the same.
I never try to get out of jury duty...
... because I realize that I might need a jury trial some day.
... because I believe in the rule of law and want to contribute to its success.
... because I was brought up to pull my own weight in every group enterprise in which I participate.
Not to Mention
Dukakis and Weld
this isn’t even good satire
this isn’t even good satire
You spotted my conservative patriot satire once
And for that you get my respect. But you failed here. What I have posted are my sincere thoughts.
I do not respect a Governor that 1) is unable to structure his life such that he can avoid spending hours a week on the worst public transportation system I have ever ridden, or 2) is such a pandering weakling, that he chooses to endure the misery of riding the T to gain favor with voters.
Are you especially dense today?
That's not the reason why he should ride it, and if you don't understand that, perhaps you should just bow out of this conversation.
Got that Block Function yet lbb?
Has Adam respected you enough to honor your repeated requests for a block function?
Yeah, that’s what I thought, haha.
you really don't see the
you really don't see the problem here? you highlighted it yourself: well-off man who is in charge of aging public transportation system should use his extraordinary means to avoid using the system he is in charge of.
whether or not you think it's a publicity stunt, he should have to use to system he's responsible for along with the constituents he's responsible for.
I like you berkleealum
But I am describing a personality type which is needed as Governor or whoever is going to improve the T with new ideas and balls of steel. This personality type would never ride public transit - more Steve Jobs, less Dukakis.
Absentee landlords don't ride the T
Nor much of anything else in the public eye