[PRCo] Public vs private

[Harold Geissenheimer]

Greetings to all

I do not want to take sides or extend
this subject but I do want to say from
my own personal experience, I have
seen good and bad on both sides.

I grew up in NYC and believe that Mayor
LaGuardia was tops.  He did not like trolleys
or els but he was a good mayor.

Tom Dewey was a good DA and Gov of NY

I moved to Pgh in 1950  and from my own
pesonal observations, Mayor (Gov) Lawrence
was a good guy.  Mayor Barr took his place
and was also OK.

The Allegheny County commissioners I first met
headed by Dr McLelland were very good.  They
appointed Judge Lewis to head up PAT.  He came
in at a time when trolleys were disliked.  Even Dameron
with his National City lines hates tried to do the right
thing most of the time  The dozen managers I moved
over from the private bus lines worked well.  Harold
Norris of the Culmerville bus replaced me in Planning.
When I left for Chicago, I recommened Bob Parker
as my replacement as director.  He was an ex Pgh Rys
checker.  Mike Scanlon replaced him.  Both good
guys.  My former secretary Martha Slepak served
all three of us.  Perhaps she made PAT work.
Mike now runs Sam Trans...Interesting that they
have only had 3 managers since 1975!

I have a lot of respect for David Brown who was my old
boss at Comnunity Transit.  He went from driver to supervisor
to manager of Blue Ridge, then formed Community Transit,
then took over Harmony Short line routes.  He worked as Dameron's
assiatant at PAT for 5 years.  He created the concept of integrated
driver seniority to merge the 30 lists.

Most Pgh Railways people were examples of
their failure in private enterprise.  Few other than
Parker made it to the top.

CD Palmer was an example of the bottom line.failure.
Tom Fitzgerald ran a good system.

The former PRC union, division 85, has never
been good for PAT or its members.  How can you explain
the Business Agent at Ross Garage taking his men out on
stike while the rest of PAT continued to operate for weeks!

We usually had responsible union leaders at CTA.  Wetherspoon
was a minister's son and we good to work with.

CTA had a very professional management until the l980's
when Mayor Byrne was elected..  It was wonderful
to work with George Krambles

Dameron was replaced by John Mauro, former Pgh
City Planning director.  He was excellent and I worked
well with him.  We developed PAT"s highest ridership
ever.  John went on to form the San Mateo Samtrans.

I have worked closely with several mayors and
governors.  Mayor Daley was good to work with.
He had professional managers at CTA and left them alone.
In Penna, I liked Gov's Lawrence, Scanton and Shafer.
Shafer was my boss during the l960's civil riots.
He was followed by a messor gov, Gov Shapp.

During this time, Penn DOT was formed.  Bill
Underwood and Ed Tennyson were dedicated
state employees..  We also had dedicated state
employees at the National Guard.  General Snyder
was Adjutant General under several govs.

UMTA and FTA also has had many dedicated people.

It is people who make it work.  And its other
people who make it fail.

what I am saying is that I have seen good and bad at both.
I dont sell short those at PAT and CTA who worked
to keep transit improving..  I am proud to have worked
with them.

God bless the many people who made my career possible.

Harold Geissenheimer
.