Jursik Says Transit Debate Too Important for Playing Russian Roulette

Supervisor Patricia Jursik issued the following statement after today’s Transportation, Public Works and Transit Committee meeting:

“On April 8, the County Executive fired yet another public relations salvo in his latest lobbying campaign to out-source our Transit System to private, for-profit operators. His MV Transportation proposal was thrown out by the board’s Administrative Determination Review Board last February, yet on March 25 well after this decision, the County Executive used his State of the County address to tout the MV proposal.  The State of the County Address is a blueprint for going forward, yet his plan was to go backward.

“In addition to the State of the County address touting MV Transit, the executive’s office also put out a phony, non-scientific survey suggesting that his plan had broad community support.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  In planning for transportation, our starting point must be the transit user that stands on the street corner waiting for the next bus.  Is it efficient, timely, reliable service? Is Milwaukee County government providing the needed transit services for business to move employees, students and others to destinations?  It appears the county executive is willing to gamble with this service.  Our current operator, Milwaukee Transport Services, has gotten high marks for low-cost but efficient management, and before we change the current system, good oversight and thorough reference checking is in order.

“I have authored a resolution that would first require the policy makers of County government work with the Federal Transit Authority to explore keeping our current operations as a not-for-profit, out-sourced service while bringing transit management into county government for tighter review and control in a blended arrangement.  Today, the Transportation, Public Works and Transit Committee delayed making a decision for further review of amendments such as allowing outside advisors to guide the board.

“I will work with other Supervisors to find good solutions for our transit provider, but I will not do it in an atmosphere of profiteering over quality government services. While others may laugh at the old phrase, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help you,’ our transit system does exactly that and does it fairly well.

“It will be a sad day for Milwaukee if the new corporate oligarchy that spends millions influencing elections can also buy the RFP process that government engages in.  These ploys of conducting phony surveys and enlisting legions of public relations professionals to influence the public will be a dangerous replacement for independently elected representatives that exercise fiduciary obligations on behalf of the represented public.  It will be a sad day when the old maxim of government becomes, ‘I’m from the private sector and I’m here to help myself!'”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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