After a quarter of a century, SEPTA’s Board of Directors has a new Chairman. Gone is Pat Deon, a Republican Party fundraiser, turnpike commissioner, and consummate insider. He retired in January.
In his place, for the first time in SEPTA’s 60-year existence, is a Democrat, an African-American, Ken Lawrence. In another first, a woman, Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz, was elected vice chair. What else has changed? Not much.
Philadelphia, which is 80% of the system and provides 80% of the local funding, still did not have a candidate nominated or elected to serve as a chair or vice chair.
The Board continues to give away millions of dollars in no-bid contracts without any discussion. Written in one of the resolutions spending $3.48 million dollars is the line “and as a result thereof, underwriting meetings were conducted in Bermuda and London markets.” No board member asked if this line meant SEPTA sent someone to Bermuda.
The wording is so unique that Hall Monitor asked SEPTA’s public relations department, after the Thursday SEPTA Board meeting, “What does this mean? Does this mean a SEPTA representative went to Bermuda? To London? If so, who went? And if not, what is the significance of saying meetings were conducted in Bermuda and London?” Hall Monitor is still waiting for clarification.
A rider, Mr. Carrington, informed the Board that SEPTA’s phone service providing riders with information shuts down at 7 pm. Not a single Board member expressed concern. Mr. Lawrence used the same tactic Mr. Deon used to avoid answering the rider. A staff member was asked to meet with the rider after the Board adjourned, ensuring the Board did not investigate the complaint.
The most telling point of how little changed comes from SEPTA’s legal filing. SEPTA joined the Commonwealth’s efforts to disenfranchise Philadelphia voters.
Unable to defeat Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krassner at the ballot box, the State Legislature is trying to take power away from the person the voters chose and give it to the legislature’s hand-picked person. As “City and State” reported, “The legislation, Senate Bill 140, was introduced by Republican state Sen. Wayne Langerholc earlier this year as part of the party’s efforts to oust Krasner”
There may be reasons for people to dislike the current District Attorney and no doubt many people voted against his candidacy. Still, the voters of Philadelphia elected Mr. Krassner by a large margin.
In SEPTA’s legal filing asking to be made a party opposing democratic control of local offices, it wrote, “SEPTA seeks to represent and defend Act 40’s constitutionality.” SEPTA’s position is that the courts should not hear the district attorney’s challenge.
SEPTA’s Board never asked, in public, how much the private well connect law firm was charging.
It appears that SEPTA has decided to support the efforts of Republicans to disenfranchise Philadelphia voters. There is little other reason for SEPTA to spend riders’ money on a lawsuit rather than on making the system safer.
Just like under Mr. Deon, SEPTA supports Republican operatives and hopes Republicans support funding Public Transit.
To make the point clear, look at the lawyer SEPTA is paying to file the suit, Matthew H. Haverstick.
Mr. Haverstick’s web page states he is “Referred to in media reports as counsel of choice for state Republicans in a number of recent policy fights” Mr. Haverstick supported the efforts by former President Trump to overturn Pennsylvania’s voters and declare Mr. Trump re-elected.
Instead of building a coalition of public transit groups across the State, bringing together unions, riders, businesses, and environmentalists to fight for public transit funding, the new SEPTA board leadership is doing what the old leadership did. Giving a handful of Republicans what they want, with the hope that the Republicans will support public transit.
The SEPTA board doesn’t have a problem hiring an election-denying lawyer and supporting a lawsuit that disenfranchises Philadelphia voters.
Hall Monitor has asked how much money will be spent on the lawsuit, how Mr. Haverstick was chosen, and if the Board knew that Mr. Haverstick represented the efforts to overturn Pennsylvania elections and appoint Mr. Trump president.
We will report any answer we receive on our 6 pm Wednesday night TV show,
Oh, but you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Bury the rag deep in your face
For now’s the time for your tears—Bob Dylan.
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