A day after federal transportation officers launched startling particulars on further questions of safety plaguing the MBTA, two candidates for auditor are calling for a security audit of the embattled company, and gubernatorial hopefuls are additionally weighing in.
Auditor candidate, state Sen. Diana DiZoglio, D-Methuen, citing new particulars from the Federal Transit Administration that present “glaring safety issues and a dysfunctional management process at the MBTA,” kicked issues off Thursday by saying she would conduct an audit.
“It is unacceptable that MBTA management has put riders and workers at risk with shoddy oversight and a lack of plans to fix track sections that are in disrepair,” DiZoglio stated.
DiZoglio’s plan largely drew a collective shrug from Republican candidate Anthony Amore and Democratic main opponent Chris Dempsey, who described it as obscure and missing element.
“Senator DiZoglio’s statement today is more empty calories from a campaign that is long on press releases, but short on policy ideas and executive experience,” Dempsey stated.
Dempsey, a longtime transit advocate, stated he would as a substitute use the authority of the auditor’s workplace to make sure the suggestions from the federal investigation are adopted by MBTA administration.
Amore stated he’s on board with an audit, however questioned DiZoglio’s dedication to transparency, when she has been “touting the endorsement” of the T’s union president Jim Evers, who voted to maintain the MBTA pension system from public information in 2014 after a $25 million loss.
Amore, who cited his federal transit expertise by the Department of Homeland Security, additionally questioned Dempsey’s dedication to the T, saying that he left his former place as assistant secretary of MassDOT after six months.
Gubernatorial candidates Attorney General Maura Healey, a Democrat, and Republicans Geoff Diehl and Chris Doughty additionally weighed in on their issues with the MBTA, following the FTA’s orders for it to take instant corrective motion on 4 questions of safety.
Democratic State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz’s marketing campaign didn’t reply to a request for remark.
A spokesperson for Healey stated she could be carefully reviewing the federal company’s short-term directives, and last suggestions later this summer time, and “as governor, she will be committed to making public transportation more safe and reliable for all.”
Doughty stated that he would do what he’s carried out at his enterprise — he could be accountable and clear to make sure everybody’s security.
Diehl stated: “It’s bad enough when mismanagement and disrepair lead to shortcomings in the system, but it’s even worse when systemic issues cause actual physical harm. Having a full and fair independent audit of the system is a good first step toward fixing what’s broken.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”