Audit a red-letter day for MARTA and its board
When MARTA’s history is written, Sept. 25, 2012 may rank in importance only behind the date back in 1971 when DeKalb and Fulton voters first approved a funding mechanism for the agency. Because one way or the other, the audit made public Tuesday by MARTA and KPMG is going to transform the agency.
We already knew that MARTA would have to change dramatically. As the audit points out, the transit agency is on a collision course with financial disaster, with reserves scheduled to be exhausted by 2018. Falling tax revenues that have affected almost all government agencies explain part of that crisis, but only part. MARTA leaders, including outgoing CEO Beverly Scott, understand that significant efficiencies would have to be found in the system if it is to survive.
The good news in the KPMG report is that such efficiencies exist. The bad news is that such efficiencies exist in sometimes embarrassing plenty.
According to the audit, MARTA’s pay scale is reasonable, and staffing levels in some functions are at or below comparable agencies elsewhere. As KPMG auditors also point out, the agency has taken difficult steps to try to deal with its challenge, including freezing salaries for the last five years and eliminating
700 staff positions in fiscal 2011. But as KPMG documents, that isn’t enough:
— Benefits, particularly pensions, are much more costly than they should be.
According to KPMG, “MARTA’s healthcare claim, retirement, and workers
compensation costs are $50 million higher than national averages including both private and public sectors.” Retirement costs alone are some $22 million higher each year than they should be. Renegotiating such benefits is always a painful process, particularly given that 60 percent of MARTA’s workforce is unionized, but the agency has little financial option.
— MARTA’s internal culture and its labor contract tolerate a level of absenteeism that is startling and expensive, forcing the agency to compensate for the recurring manpower shortage by the hiring of some 371 additional employees at an annual cost of $10 million. That is not tolerable.
— While many areas of the agency operate efficiently, those that do not offer
substantial opportunity for cost savings through privatization. According to
KPMG auditors, for example, it costs MARTA seven times as much to process an invoice as it would to outsource that function. It costs MARTA more than twice as much to cut an employee’s paycheck as it would through privatization. By outsourcing those two functions alone, the agency could save $1 million annually.
Altogether, easily outsourced functions could save the agency some $27 million over a five-year period, KPMG estimated. More difficult outsourcing projects could save another $115 million over five years, although in some cases that would require renegotiation of labor contracts. (MARTA’s contract with the Amalgamated Transit Union expires June 20, 2013).
Not all of the savings identified by KPMG will be realized. Privatization, for example, is often oversold as a cost-cutting option, although the scale of potential savings identified in the audit suggests that it offers a critically important option. Reducing pension and healthcare costs will take time, and will require the cooperation of union members who are faced with a choice of protecting current benefits or protecting their jobs.
All in all, however, the audit findings represent an enormous opportunity for MARTA to restore its financial standing and independence and perhaps play a renewed role in the region’s transit future.
That will require leadership. The agency is in the process of hiring a new CEO and is down to its final two candidates. The deciding factor in that choice should be each candidate’s ability and willingness to implement changes on such a large scale in a relatively small time.
And that in turn will require leadership by the MARTA board. While the board has an obligation to MARTA employees, its deeper obligation is to those the agency serves, many of whom are low-income seniors, students and workers who often can’t afford other forms of transportation. Those customers have already been forced to accept repeated cutbacks in service as well as fare increases. As the audit documents, it’s now time to look elsewhere for savings.
– Jay Bookman
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293 comments Add your comment
stands for decibels
September 26th, 2012
10:47 am
Quoc Huong on Buford Highway has a righteous pho
Erwin’s, this place?
https://plus.google.com/113034269811492623722/about?gl=us&hl=en
think I’ll bookmark it if I have it right…
Brosephus™
September 26th, 2012
10:48 am
dB @ 10:44
paulo 977
September 26th, 2012
10:48 am
Jay……”Those customers have already been forced to accept repeated cutbacks in service as well as fare increases.”
____________________________________________
Welll , who cares ? These are just MOOCHERS .!!!!!!!! Folks this is GA supporter of the Romney Philosophy
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 26th, 2012
10:49 am
BRO,
Who you calling a ho?? I just may resemble that remark in more than one metric…
Erwin's cat
September 26th, 2012
10:49 am
I am always up for some tasty char siu bao! Do they make that there? The buns with sweet red bbq pork inside?
not at Ming’s …but there is a bakery in the same strip mall that has all kinds of meat/pastry items
and yeah….all of them are amazingly cheap
Keep Up the Good Fight!
September 26th, 2012
10:50 am
Who you calling a ho?? I just may resemble that remark in more than one metric…
Well if the CFM shoes fit…
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
September 26th, 2012
10:50 am
Maybe needs to get that welfare lady back as CEO ……… you know, the one who spent her whole life on it.
What was her name ?
Joe Hussein Mama
September 26th, 2012
10:50 am
K71 — “Richard Pryor once said, when asked why he had been married so many times…… “I’m gonna’ just keep tryin’ till I get it right.”
Practice makes perfect!
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
September 26th, 2012
10:52 am
Well, here’s the new “Party School” list for 2012:
1.University of Virginia
2.USC
3.University of Florida
4.University of Texas
5.University of Wisconsin
6.University of Georgia
7.Vanderbilt
8.Tulane
9.Texas Christian
10.Ohio State.
Jm
September 26th, 2012
10:53 am
Byteme 8:47 agreed
Oscar
September 26th, 2012
10:54 am
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
September 26th, 2012
10:41 am
____
Read the article you linked. Pretty disgusting. Sounds like a problem without a practical solution. Not one that I can think of. Time to abandon the project and live Afghans to Afghans. I don’t see a threat there to out national security.
USinUK - thug with a uterus ... and former Girl Scout
September 26th, 2012
10:54 am
“1.University of Virginia”
getting down, getting funky in Waltons territory …
Brosephus™
September 26th, 2012
10:55 am
The CBO among others would confirm that federal employees, on average get significantly more total compensation than private sector…this includes retirement, health, and salary..
Jesus H. Christ… And when you do an apples to apples comparison?
Once you stop long enough to realize that there are tens of million workers in the private sector who make minimum wage w/little to no benefits, you realize that has a dampening effect on the private sector average. There are no corresponding jobs in the federal service to compare against retail and/or fast food jobs.
On the other hand, most fed jobs require college degrees and sometimes you even need advanced degrees to obtain those jobs. When you compare those jobs vs their private sector counterparts, there is no huge difference, and in many cases, the public sector is the less compensated of the two.
Then you have jobs, such as mine, that have no private sector counterpart. How do you compare those?
One last thing you fail to consider, one can enter the military with only a high school education and climb the ranks to better pay. Since the US has willingly allowed corporations to remove manufacturing jobs that provided the same career path for high school graduates, why try to excoriate the public sector for failings of the private sector? That’s like saying that, since your neighbor jumped off a bridge that I have to do the same thing because I have a public sector job that’s the same as his.
Steve Shamrock
September 26th, 2012
10:56 am
Sometimes the truth hurts Brosephus…
“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” – Abraham Lincoln
Jm
September 26th, 2012
10:56 am
Oscar 10:47 tell it like it is
- you know, something to consider: maybe MARTA operations should be turned over to the state
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 26th, 2012
10:57 am
FRED
I agree with the position that government jobs should not be shipped overseas…I think we pay for enough of that given the computer and defense (for examples) govt purchases for goods manufactured overseas..
Any how, just rhetorical thought…I don’t understand how the whole thing about Romney alledgely shipping jobs overseas gets so much traction amongst DEMS…I imaging many of whom own stock in companies who practice this..
And yes, the fact that our olympians wore made in china uniforms speaks volumes..absurd…the cost savings must have been material…or the budget was tight…who knows.
Joe Hussein Mama
September 26th, 2012
10:58 am
E. Cat — “not at Ming’s …but there is a bakery in the same strip mall that has all kinds of meat/pastry items and yeah….all of them are amazingly cheap”
Outstanding. I see a trip over there in my future. Thanks much for the tip!
Those of you who have never encountered Char Siu (cha-shoo), it’s a sweet red Chinese bbq pork that’s served as everything from a main dish to a soup ingredient to the filling in baked or steamed dumplings or buns. If you’re a ‘cue expert, IMO you owe it to yourself to check it out, if for no other reason than to claim *international* knowledge and expertise in ‘cue.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Char_siu
In Hawaii, they would cook most any meat Char Siu style and it was readily available in many takeout joints, where you could also buy it by the pound, just like ‘cue back here on the mainland. But I liked it best as Char Siu Bao, or “Manapua” in Hawaiian slang:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Char_Siu_Bao
A couple of Manapua made a great lunch-on-the-go; almost like a couple of small pork bbq sammiches.
Bryan -- MARTA Supporter
September 26th, 2012
10:58 am
@ Fred ™
September 26th, 2012
10:15 am
Where was anything I said racist? Your comment doesn’t even make sense. Here is the definition of Racism:
rac·ism
noun
1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
Where have I once said that blacks were superior to whites or vice versa? While I am far from being racist I do have a problem with idiots and those who don’t educate themselves before speaking.
Road Scholar
September 26th, 2012
10:58 am
keep: Was waiting for a train at Lindbergh for 20 minutes. Only saw the signs on the platform welcoming me. Saw no signs/heard no audible message concerning the next train coming..NB or SB. Were they on lunch break? It was 2 pm.. Or do you hear voices? Clairvoyant?
Jm
September 26th, 2012
10:59 am
Carp about the state all you want
The run centennial park very well vs woodruff
A lot of the other things they manage they do well
Running MARTA would probably clean things up quickly
Brosephus™
September 26th, 2012
11:00 am
Who you calling a ho?? I just may resemble that remark in more than one metric…
That would be one Steve Shamrock for that post @ 10:37 that he put up. The only thing he didn’t do was flash his ta-tas to get someone’s attention. I kinda get a giggle or two when people come here and attention whore. Hopefully, he’s not one of those paid bloggers. If so, he needs to work a wee bit harder.
Road Scholar
September 26th, 2012
11:00 am
0311; UGA is slipping!
Jm
September 26th, 2012
11:01 am
And that would solve funding. Let state manage MARTA. they also would pay the bills if costs go up……
Turn MARTA over to the state.
Joe Hussein Mama
September 26th, 2012
11:02 am
R. Scholar — “Were they on lunch break? It was 2 pm.. Or do you hear voices? Clairvoyant?”
Some stations are better than others about that. It’s possible that the PA system was either off or in poor repair. I’ve noted in the past that sometimes, one or more speakers in the station are out and so you won’t really hear the announcements unless you’re fairly close to a working speaker.
Brosephus™
September 26th, 2012
11:02 am
Sometimes the truth hurts Brosephus…
Is that why you run from it like campers running from Jason Voorhees??
Sagegirl
September 26th, 2012
11:02 am
Sagegirl, you realize I was referring to him going to work for Marta on that day.
What, you don’t think Ol’ Mitt can’t multi-task?? LOL
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 26th, 2012
11:03 am
BRO,
I’m a data hound and the methodology of the CBO suggest the data was limited to …occupations where some similarity exists…I think this would rule out minimum wage, no benefit jobs in the private sector except to the extent the government had jobs that are are similar in nature…this tightens up the data significantly…
Oscar
September 26th, 2012
11:04 am
Turn MARTA over to the state.
_______
Good idea, but don’t think the state wants it. Georgia legislature would never agree to that. They don’t like Atlanta and spending money on Atlanta projects.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 26th, 2012
11:05 am
BRO,
IMAHO…at least I never turn down a free meal, a chance to use the restroom, or an opportunity to fornicate..
iRun
September 26th, 2012
11:07 am
Stevie Ray – let me address you grudge against the fed government worker.
I am one. I work for the CDC. I have a master’s degree in statistics and 12 years experience. I can certainly tell you that I could make more working in the biotech industry. I don’t because working at CDC is interesting and satisfying and it’s also family friendly. But I make about 85% of what I could make in private industry. My salary is approximately 94K a year. I started out in private industry 12 years ago making 57K, so I feel my current salary is not unreasonable. I don’t mind telling you my salary because I am a public employee and it’s actually public knowledge.
Realize the CDC hires a LOT of MD’s. And PhD’s. You can’t hire good scientists if you cut their salary by 50% (which is the one I hear people throw around).
I know I would be forced to go into private industry rather that do the work I love for the country I love. No statistician with 12 years experience will take a salary of 47K a year.
For an organization like CDC, the world and this country’s defense against diseases that constantly threaten our national security, do you really want to pay them so little? Or trust that a private entity would have our best interests in mind?
As for benefits – I have something called a TSP, which is like a 401K. There is a pension but it’s so small nobody even accounts for it in their retirement plans. It’s 1% of the average of the highest 36 months of pay for each year of service up to 30%. So, you have to work for the fed AT LEAST 30 years to get even the max.
The benefit I think is the best is the one I think all Americans should have – access to a lot of healthcare providers. While your company might offer you the choice of Blue Cross/Blue Shield or Aetna, etc, and then there are a High and Low option from each, etc, in the federal government we have something like 12 different providers to chose from. That’s a nice thing.
Anyway, I just posted this to give you a little info. You may arm yourself with it or you may find yourself not so begrudged. I will work for your best interests either way.
Steve Shamrock
September 26th, 2012
11:08 am
So Brosephus…unemployment hasn’t been above 8.0+% for 4 years?
The debt isn’t $16 trillion and growing?
There aren’t 46 million people on foodstamps?
Taxes won’t be going up?
My insurance premiums didn’t go up?
You should change your name to Brosephus the Dumbarse…maybe I will trademark that for ya.
Steve Shamrock
September 26th, 2012
11:10 am
“Brosephus the Dumbars’” response will be a delusional one liner using the word “whore” with a smiley face.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 26th, 2012
11:12 am
Appropos on nothing…I thought I’d share a poem y’all may enjoy courtesy of Calvin Trillon:
MITT ROMNEY AS A DOLL
Yes, Mitt’s so slick of speech and slick of garb, he
Reminds us all of Ken, of Ken and Barbie___
So quick to shed his moderate regalia,
He may, like Ken, be lacking genetalia..
Brosephus™
September 26th, 2012
11:12 am
Stevie Ray
@ 11:03 — I don’t think that was the standard that was applied to the USA Today article though. The link that you posted from the CBO appears to look at education more than jobs. I saved that one to look at later as I have not seen that one before.
@ 11:05 — Show me any man that will turn those things down…
Welcome to the Occupation
September 26th, 2012
11:13 am
JHO, interesting about Allan West.
The Army is a great place for controlled aggression – as long as you don’t OVER-identify with it and take its dictates TOO seriously.
That’s what a psychotic like Allen West can never get into his bedeviled head.
USMC
September 26th, 2012
11:13 am
iRun @ 11:07
I am not necessarily knocking you for working for the Government, but I know a FEW people(highly educated) who work at the CDC and they tell me HORROR stories about the work force and general operation of the CDC.
I am sure you do you job well, but I am curious that you paint such a rosy picture of productivity at the CDC.
TaxPayer
September 26th, 2012
11:14 am
Wow! Sounds like Stevie Ray has public sector job envy.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
September 26th, 2012
11:15 am
Road, now I can’t help your eyesight. I am not a doctor nor have I played one on TV. IF you cannot find the electronic signs in the middle of the platform and watch them, I can’t help you child. Perhaps you may want to ask for assistance. They do exist but I tell you what, I can meet you and show you in person for a fee.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 26th, 2012
11:15 am
iRun,
Yes, the study showed that unlike the vast majority of government workers, those with PHD’s et al do make less than those in private sectors..
I’m an FCAS and decided to run my own business…at least at the CDC, you must have materially more job satisfaction knowing you are helping others…
Joe Hussein Mama
September 26th, 2012
11:16 am
S. Ray — “IMAHO”
I don’t think I’d'a told that.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
September 26th, 2012
11:17 am
My insurance premiums didn’t go up?
Perhaps you need to check out Costco instead of waiting in line there at the Whole Foods with your food stamps. Effective 8/1/12 Costco Personal Health Insurance Plan Rates Have Gone Down
Rates have been reduced by up to 25% on monthly premiums.
iRun
September 26th, 2012
11:17 am
USMC – the only thing I can say is that the way CDC is structured – many divisions – you get different cultures in different divisions. It’s almost like different companies. My division is highly productive.
There is some bureaucratic cr@p, though. A lot our administrative systems are so layered and inefficient.
But the science is out of this world.
I have, however, heard about very toxic divisions. I would never transfer into one. My former division wasn’t bad, either, but my current one is great.
TaxPayer
September 26th, 2012
11:17 am
Poor Steve Shamrock isn’t better off than he was four years ago. Probably just a broken bootstrap.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 26th, 2012
11:19 am
Calvin Trillon also labeled Romney the PowerPoint Money bag..
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
September 26th, 2012
11:20 am
Road Scholar:
“0311; UGA is slipping!”
Well …………. I went there right after my time in the USMC/Nam. I found it quite amusing to watch most students waste their parents money. I worked my way through and personally went to get an education (that’s what universities are supposed to be for ……….. not summer camp) so I have a totally different perspective ……………
)
I like the other list that shows the highest quality education, etc. and I believe the Service Academies are always at or near the top (Army, Navy, Air Force).
Brosephus™
September 26th, 2012
11:20 am
So Brosephus…unemployment hasn’t been above 8.0+% for 4 years?
The debt isn’t $16 trillion and growing?
There aren’t 46 million people on foodstamps?
Taxes won’t be going up?
My insurance premiums didn’t go up?
You should change your name to Brosephus the Dumbarse…maybe I will trademark that for ya.
And when will you, for the first time, actually address the ROOT CAUSE of those things, or will you continue to insinuate that the history of the United States began on January 20, 2009? So, just for you, I’ll entertain your statements to see if you will address the truth.
Employment: Given the fact that net new job growth in the US has been declining since the 1970’s, what can any one person do to change that in 4 years? You’re talking about a problem that has been growing for 40 years, and you expect it to be straightened out in 4???
Debt: Which party decided it was ok to purposefully cut revenues to the government? Which party that decided that has not cut spending? When you have a country that is continuously growing, how do you expect to pay down existing debt when you continually cut revenue?
Foodstamps: Didn’t you just sqawk about unemployment?
Taxes: Taxes should go up, and if I had anything to do with it, they would have started going up in 2010. For 30 plus years, we’ve been cutting taxes and spending more. To get control over our issues, we need to spend less and tax more. Even a 10 year old boy scout will tell you that back tracking will get you out of a situation where you are completely lost.
Insurance: Insurance premiums have been going up over the past 10 years, so why is it a problem now? Why are you hating on the free market? You, as a consumer, have a choice in who to do business with, so don’t hate on the free market if you don’t like the results of it.
There’s no need for me to change my name, as you seem better suited to being called Dumbarse than I do. I’ll let you hang on to that one as Brosephus fits me pretty well.
iRun
September 26th, 2012
11:21 am
Stevie Ray, thanks, yes my work is very interesting, and also very varied. Which adds to the interests. I am constantly upgrading my skillset.
It’s not perfect, obviously. As USMC pointed out, YMMV.
I just wanted to give info and illustrate that salaries of jobs like mine aren’t unreasonable. Though some people will still find it unreasonable simply because it’s the government.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
September 26th, 2012
11:21 am
Oscar:
“Turn MARTA over to the state.”
If you really want a laugh, turn it over to TSA.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 26th, 2012
11:22 am
TAXPAYER,
No public job envy, I’m a fellow of actuarial science..which basically means I spend an inordinate time staring at my shoes..the actuaries on Fed level make less as indicated by CBO per education but it is fertile recruiting ground as once the FED’s train them, people like me hire them:-)
USMC
September 26th, 2012
11:23 am
“MARTA needs to seek efficiencies where they’ve been identified in a humane fashion.”–Stands
Come on Stands, Are you kidding with us?
That has to be about the weakest statement I have read in a LONG time and evident of one who pontificates on internet blogs and has NO real world experience or common sense.
This is part of the problem with today’s youth. They are so soft that they cannot or will not face realities of the REAL world.
FIX the problem, period. Leave the weak-minded “humane fashion” garbage out of the equation.
Brosephus™
September 26th, 2012
11:26 am
iRun
CDC??? No wonder you rock!!!! If there is any agency outside of the military that I have praises for, it is the CDC. Nothing like knowing I can go home at the end of the day and I won’t be bleeding from the eyes or something.
Paul
September 26th, 2012
11:28 am
Strikes me as a microcosm of the national debate. Vested interests, competing loyalties, everyone has to give a little to survive.
Good luck with that.
Erwin's cat
September 26th, 2012
11:28 am
Stevie Ray – I’m a fellow of actuarial science..which basically means I spend an inordinate time staring at my shoes..
gotta admit, that made me chuckle
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 26th, 2012
11:29 am
KEEP,
I have no idea about Costco’s benefits cost reduction which may have involved higher co-pays and deductibles and the like…
Most employees are facing increases (sans PeloseCare) averaging 10-12%…this factors in things such as cost shifting, increasing co-pays and deductibles and the like.. In fact, prior to passing PelosiCare, she invited a group of the largest insurers to visit, they presented sound actuarial suggestions including that once the pool of uninsured (I still can’t figure how many are suggesting 30 million will remain uninsured) comes into play, these market will be a collosal loss leader..since they need their portfolio to balance, the projection they shared with Pelosi et al was that by 2018, the average family premiums will increase by $20K..
Pelosi responded with extortion…namely threatening anti trust exemption…which won’t affect this projection but will force the insurers to play along despite…
iRun
September 26th, 2012
11:34 am
Bro -
There is NO Ebola in the USA. There is currently an outbreak in Uganda but it contained.
Even though the outbreak is in another country, guess who had a big hand in helping the Ugandan government contain it?
And, bleeding from the eyes is the least of your worries if you get Ebola. It’s the 50% mortality rate.
And think if we just didn’t have CDC and that Ebola got on a plane?
Paul
September 26th, 2012
11:37 am
iRun 11:07
Nicely put, thank you.
CDC’s one of those agencies we like to cite here when people post their inane “I pay gazillions of dollars in taxes each year because I make so much because I work so hard and I don’t get nothing back for it!!!!”
iRun
September 26th, 2012
11:39 am
There is another misconception I’d like to clear up.
I have NEVER rappelled from a helicopter in a HazMat suit with a vial of antidote.
Unfortunately.
iRun
September 26th, 2012
11:40 am
Thank you, Paul. And you, too, Bro for saying I rock.
iRun – iRock. Heh.
Doggone/GA
September 26th, 2012
11:41 am
“I have NEVER rappelled from a helicopter in a HazMat suit with a vial of antidote”
Has anyone from CDC actually ever done that?
stands for decibels
September 26th, 2012
11:41 am
Leave the weak-minded “humane fashion” garbage out of the equation.
you pray to Jesus with that mouth?
Jack
September 26th, 2012
11:41 am
KMPG likely got paid up-front with a cashier’s check. I don’t understand why MARTA checks don’t bounce if they’re run as reported.
j
September 26th, 2012
11:42 am
It amazes me the people that are running this company. Sounds like it needs an enema and also it needs to seek ideas and advice from a the mta. Fire the ones that are ruining it, and put the one who actually know about and has experience in transportation. About dat 60 in tv incident on da subway? Nobody is dat stupid.
Welcome to the Occupation
September 26th, 2012
11:43 am
The NFL owners are the true face of capitalism.
Vicious attacks on workers for even daring to claim they deserve the crumbs they’re thrown.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/26/sports/football/nfl-commissioner-goodell-caught-between-bad-calls-and-owners.html?_r=1&hpw
Aquagirl
September 26th, 2012
11:44 am
Has anyone from CDC actually ever done that?
I’m gonna be highly disappointed if the answer is “no.”
Brosephus™
September 26th, 2012
11:45 am
iRun
Yeah, I know where it’s located now. If that Ebola got on a plane, I’ll probably get it long before most any other blogger here will since I’m one of the first people you see when you get off that plane. I’ve run into many of your colleagues coming from Africa, and I make sure to thank them each and every time I come across them.
I thought the mortality rate was north of 70%, but even 50% is scary as hell to me.
stands for decibels
September 26th, 2012
11:45 am
I mean, seriously, USMC, you’re saying we shouldn’t make cuts to public organization in a humane fashion?
I thought that was kind of a no-brainer, a non-partisan take on things. Is the rock-ribbed conservative way to cut via literally throwing unneeded employees from a moving train? would that be sufficiently strong-minded?
sheesh.
and you know where you can stick those presumptions about my supposed softness, unfamiliarity with what you blithely refer to as the “real world” and for that matter, my youth (which would’ve been about half a lifetime ago.) I rarely bring up my personal life but I suspect you’d be somewhat ashamed of what you’d posted if you knew the least bit about it.
and in any case, it’s rude to assume sh-t.
iRun
September 26th, 2012
11:46 am
Doggone – I don’t think so.
But, the CDC IS a government agency and there are levels of clearance. We probably have our own secret paramilitary health professionals who are first responders.
Seriously, though, the EIS officers are the ones who respond to outbreaks. There may occasionally be helicopters and HazMats suits involved, but nothing dramatic as you see on the TeeVee.
The helicopters probably belong to a local hospital. And the HazMat suits are probably only ever used in the BSL-4 labs.
But you wouldn’t believe the number of people who ask me if I fight disease with my bare hands.
I am a statistician! I do data analysis all day.
Brosephus™
September 26th, 2012
11:46 am
I have NEVER rappelled from a helicopter in a HazMat suit with a vial of antidote.
There’s always a first time for everything…
Paul
September 26th, 2012
11:46 am
iRun
“I have NEVER rappelled from a helicopter in a HazMat suit with a vial of antidote.”
Yeah, but did you ever get to snuggle up in a lab with Rene Russo while containing an airborne virus?
stands for decibels
September 26th, 2012
11:46 am
I have NEVER rappelled from a helicopter in a HazMat suit with a vial of antidote.
heh.
…you heard this week’s Wait Wait, didn’t you?
http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=35
Doggone/GA
September 26th, 2012
11:48 am
“But you wouldn’t believe the number of people who ask me if I fight disease with my bare hands”
See, I’m the opposite. I have this vision of CSC scientists locked away in their clean labs…calling local first responders and saying: “Here’s the problem, here’s the solution…good luck”!
Joe Hussein Mama
September 26th, 2012
11:53 am
Forget Ebola! Here’s the REAL threat!
http://lifeinc.today.com/_news/2012/09/25/14095135-bacon-shortage-worldwide-unavoidable-uk-pig-group-says?
WORLDWIDE BACON SHORTAGE UNAVOIDABLE ZOMGGGGGGGG
Doggone/GA
September 26th, 2012
11:53 am
Oops! CDC scientists – doing too many things at once!
iRun
September 26th, 2012
11:55 am
OK, I’ll have to get back you later – data is calling.
Brosephus™
September 26th, 2012
11:57 am
WORLDWIDE BACON SHORTAGE UNAVOIDABLE ZOMGGGGGGGG
damned Mayans!!!!!!
Fred ™
September 26th, 2012
11:58 am
It’s about lunch time. i hope none of ya’ll were planning on eating at Zesto’s on Moreland Avenue……..
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/vehicle-slams-into-moreland-avenue-restaurant/nSMLC/
Fred ™
September 26th, 2012
12:01 pm
Brosephus™
September 26th, 2012
11:45 am
iRun
Yeah, I know where it’s located now. If that Ebola got on a plane, I’ll probably get it long before most any other blogger here will since I’m one of the first people you see when you get off that plane. I’ve run into many of your colleagues coming from Africa, and I make sure to thank them each and every time I come across them.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I had a neighbor when I lived in Lawrenceville that went out on the outbreaks. I used to tell him, we don’t need you to bring us anything back from your trip………
stands for decibels
September 26th, 2012
12:03 pm
election night reality check SHEETZ
Joe Hussein Mama
September 26th, 2012
12:03 pm
B. Sephus — “damned Mayans!!!!!!”
What’s yours is yours, and what’s Mayan is Mayan.
Tom(Independent Viet Vet-USAF)
September 26th, 2012
12:03 pm
GT – Sorry you seem so upset most of the time. Perhaps when you”ll start a football program over there, things will get better! Love my Dogs!!!!!!!! and Falcons, too!!!!!!!!!!!!
getalife
September 26th, 2012
12:04 pm
romney is lowering expectations on the debates.
Finally got something right.
Lets face it.
America hates mitt romney.
Deangelo
September 26th, 2012
12:05 pm
When I worked in the private sector, we hired The Eagles to come play at a marketing party and sent our big shots on cruises to Morocco and various Caribbean islands. Why doesn’t government operate more like this?
Brosephus™
September 26th, 2012
12:05 pm
Fred
——————————
JHM
Welcome to the Occupation
September 26th, 2012
12:05 pm
Decibels: “I mean, seriously, USMC, you’re saying we shouldn’t make cuts to public organization in a humane fashion?
I thought that was kind of a no-brainer, a non-partisan take on things”
That’s so pre-Obama, pre-financial crisis, Stands! Don’t you know that the world changed and as of Jan. 1, 2009 there was never ever any such thing as “compassionate conservatism” and anyone who tried to bring up these inconvenient facts was to be systematically ignored and shouted down? Inconvenient facts such as, for ex., that so-called conservative think tanks not only used to accept broad-based policy objectives such as finding a way to at least gesture towards universal health coverage, but even spent some of their time actually drafting a plan that was later put into practice in the liberal bastion of MA.
The door must be slammed shut on that, don’t you know? The minions of today must be kept gulled and docile and ready to get to the polls to vote for their GOP heroes, they mustn’t be confused by being reminded that there was once a time when the conservatives in this country were compelled to at least pay lip service to a broad social contract.
Fred ™
September 26th, 2012
12:11 pm
America hates mitt romney.
I don’t. I just don’t think he should be President……… of ANYTHING, the rotary club, the debate team, the United States, you name it, I don’t think he should be President.
Guvmint Worker
September 26th, 2012
12:15 pm
I’m an FCAS and decided to run my own business…at least at the CDC, you must have materially more job satisfaction knowing you are helping others…
I’m one of those CDC PhDs. Right now I’m stuck with a Word document to which I’m trying to make changes, and the system is telling me I don’t have enough disk space to save the changes. So I must plead with the IT people to resolve the problem. Imagine that—working for one of the largest public health agencies in the world, while also working with a system that has decided I don’t have enough disk space to save changes!
And satisfaction? Oh, sure. I just love it when some a-hole on here tells me how useless government workers are. Frankly, I’d get more satisfaction from learning that they’d contracted SARS or ebola virus.
Don
September 26th, 2012
2:34 pm
Keep Up the Good Fight!
September 26th, 2012
9:07 am
“Breeze is an expensive fix for gate jumpers! All they needed were NYCTA-style revolving turnstiles.
Because of course you have studied the costs and maintenance required and impact while of course realizing that the Breeze system also provides long term ability to track ridership use, station use and time in system as well as having other potentials.
Kneejerk reactions do not make great operational decision making tools”
I don’t have to study them to have a handle on the costs and benefits of the system. So far, we have reduced fare evasion and data collection. I can think of several ways this could be accomplished at much lower cost.
Every other modern transit system in the US uses zone fares. Hello, MARTA?
Wilbur
September 26th, 2012
4:04 pm
The notion that everyone who has doubts and questions about the operations of MARTA is acting out of a racial animus is itself a deeply racist idea. You get a lot of that kind of racism from the left.
Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (aka "Knuckle-Dragger")
September 26th, 2012
5:12 pm
Maybe we can get Scott Walker on retainer. He knows how to do this stuff.
This audit is a severe indictment of the Democrat way of doing things. Surprised you printed it, Jay.
Chinelle
September 26th, 2012
9:53 pm
“According to the audit, MARTA’s pay scale is reasonable,…”
Really? Compared to who? Certainly not to most other blue collar occupations.
MARTA is in their deep financial hole largely because they made a pact with the union devil years ago. At one time the AJC published MARTA employees’ salaries, iirc, annually in the paper. Atlantans were astonished to see bus drivers earning >$100,000 a year at a time when that would’ve been respectable income for a physician. No doubt the public outrage prompted MARTA to stop publishing the salaries.
Just don’t insult our intelligence by telling us the pay scale is “reasonable”.
Bob
September 27th, 2012
3:22 pm
MARTA is nothing more than a bloated bureacracy, MARTA is more concerned about its own well being [jobs program, pensions, staffing levels, etc.] than providing efficient services within its financial means.
Thomas R. Buchanan, P.E.
September 28th, 2012
11:22 am
I’m always interested in a thoughtful, intelligent exchange of ideas concerning the future progress or lack thereof towards recapturing the quality of life that once existed in our fair city. I guess I’ll have to look elsewhere. I give Mr. Bookman enormous credit for engaging AJC followers in the debate. I applaud him for his willingness to suffer fools gladly. He is an essential counterweight to the others.
As for the rest of the AJC editorial staff and managenment:
There you go again, AJC (Cox).
First Wendell Cox and now to add insult to injury – Randal O’Toole. If you’re going to have these type of canards influencing your readers, the least you can do is be honest about their agenda and for whom they shill. The final insult: Rush Limbaugh. OMG!
Credible. Not. More like intellectual dishonesty.
Compelling. Hardly.
Complete. Not by a long shot.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Shame. Shame. Shame.
MARTA RIDER
October 1st, 2012
5:16 pm
Why is that every MARTA bus reminds you that assaulting a bus driver is a serious offense every ten minutes?? Is this how you make new riders feel secure? and why is that when a bus runs late and you comment on that – the bus driver acts like you insulted them?