Brooks’ Taint Smelled from Rochester to Tampa
In today’s Democrat and Chronicle, Joe Spector has a lackluster piece on Mark Aesch, current head of the RGRTA transit service, turning down a job offer to run the transit system in Tampa Bay. Here’s what Joe had to say:
Aesch, who has been CEO in Rochester since 2004, said he has work he wants to complete here and declined the Tampa post. He said being offered the position and recently being elected to the American Public Transportation Association board indicates the authority’s progress.
The Tampa authority confirmed that Aesch turned down the job and said they will look to their second choice, David Armijo, chief operating officer for the Transportation Corridor Agency in Orange County, Calif.
While what’s said in the article is true, is doesn’t tell the whole story. An August 4, 2007, article in the Tampa Bay Tribune titled “HART’s Pick Has Some Baggage” fills in the details (HART is the name of Tampa’s transit service):
TAMPA - After being vetted by a professional search firm and interviewed by Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority board members, Mark Aesch was selected from among five candidates Friday as the top choice to be the agency’s next executive director.
But the choice was made without authority board members knowing that Aesch is embroiled in a dispute with the federal government at his current job as chief executive officer of the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority in Rochester, N.Y.
Moreover, according to an email from Ed Crawford, a HART spokesperson, one board member actually attempted to rescind the offer to Mr. Aesch because he wasn’t forthcoming about the controversies he has overseen while with the RGRTA.
This is apparently just one more example of Maggie Brooks’ bringing down those around her. It’s sad, really, but the real shame is that Joe Spector didn’t even mention the controversy in his article. This is something the public deserves to know.
So atypical of the lies and deceptions of the Brooks administration. Now I picture Aesch walking around all with his right hand on his forehead, an “L” clearly defined by the shape of thumb and forefinger - forever marked as nothing more than another “Loser” through affiliation.
Pushed to extremes, embroiled in double-dipping, controversial decision-making schemes - I know as time goes by, the scandals ala Maggie will continue to surface, until “just the right one” hits, square between the eyes.
Wasn’t RGRTA the same firm that employed the East Rochester Mayor Bonacchi up until recently when the State & Fed made him quit his position as head of security due to the conflict of interest that existed since RGRTA accepts public funding, and the “Chief” was also the mayor? Yup - that’s the same one.
Another “L” on the forehead of Maggie’s buddies!
Is the “dispute with the federal government” the Laidlaw suit over RTS providing dedicated school routes, or is there something else I’m missing? If that’s all there is to it, then it doesn’t seem like much of a big deal.
If anyone would like to sign Andrew Stainton’s petition to be on the ballot against Maggie, he will be making himself available between 5 and 6 PM on Wedneday, Aug 15 at Boulder Coffee at 100 Alexander St. If you could RSVP at http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=22764 that would be helpful.
I agree. First RTS continues to contribute to suburban sprawl by taking citizens and possible employees out of the city to jobs that are in distant areas, and do not pay enough to live on. Second, Maggie Brooks does not have an independent mind. She is controlled by Steve Minarik. A top to bottom clean-up- of the countty government is really required, which means she, Minarik, and the County Legislature Republican have to go!