Have the public been deceived in the Silver Spring Transit Center matter?
Have Montgomery County staff deceived the public? Absolutely. In addition to failing to take responsibility for their own parts in this public works nightmare, namely failures in project management and in construction management, Montgomery County spokesman David Dise's repeated public statements that "the SSTC will absolutely be safe" are misleading, irresponsible and downright false. It's impossible to know what other flaws are hidden inside the SSTC's severely flawed concrete frame. Further, Dise cannot predict the future.
When it comes to making statements like "the SSTC will absolutely be safe" and "the SSTC's private contractor, engineer and concrete testing and inspection firm will pay for all 'repair' costs", Montgomery County staff and elected officials are writing checks that they can't cash.
Have news media's (print, TV, radio, internet) coverage of the SSTC debacle been misleading and incomplete? Absolutely. News media have done little more than parrot the misleading and incomplete statements of Montgomery County staff and elected officials, and report Montgomery County press releases carte blanche. News media have failed miserably to report the SSTC story "in depth" and to ask "probing questions" that news media so highly tout of themselves.
As far as the public failing to pay attention to the serious issues raised by the SSTC, and to hold Montgomery County responsible for whitewashing their own part in the SSTC fiasco, only we can answer why we have failed to hold each culpable party responsible for their part.
However, all is not lost.
On Tuesday January 13, 2015 at 1:30 PM a public hearing will be held at the Montgomery County Council Hearing Room, 100 Maryland Avenue, in Rockville. The purpose of the public hearing is to present for approval a "supplemental appropriation and CIP amendment for $16,750,000" for "repairs" to the severely flawed, LEMON Silver Spring Transit Center. Those who wish to testify must call 240-777-7803 by 1/12/15 at 5 pm.
- by Montgomery County staff?
- by Montgomery County's elected officials?
- by news media?
- perhaps the public just aren't paying attention.
- or maybe...
Have Montgomery County staff deceived the public? Absolutely. In addition to failing to take responsibility for their own parts in this public works nightmare, namely failures in project management and in construction management, Montgomery County spokesman David Dise's repeated public statements that "the SSTC will absolutely be safe" are misleading, irresponsible and downright false. It's impossible to know what other flaws are hidden inside the SSTC's severely flawed concrete frame. Further, Dise cannot predict the future.
Have Montgomery County elected officials deceived the public? Absolutely. Repeated public statements by Isiah Leggett and members of the County council have failed to acknowledge Montgomery County's role in the SSTC debacle, while opting instead to blame only the private design engineer, contractor and the concrete inspection and testing company, and WMATA, exclusively without owning up to the County's own mismanagement of their project. Former council member Valerie Irvin's public statements of the council's deception have been ignored by Montgomery County government, news media and the public. Valerie Ervin on Silver Spring Transit Center (Video) | Montgomery Community Media Likewise, the Montgomery County IG report of the County's failures in project and construction management have also been ignored by Montgomery County elected officials, news media and the public. silver spring transit center: Deficiencies in Project Management in Construction of the Silver Spring Transit Center
When it comes to making statements like "the SSTC will absolutely be safe" and "the SSTC's private contractor, engineer and concrete testing and inspection firm will pay for all 'repair' costs", Montgomery County staff and elected officials are writing checks that they can't cash.
As far as the public failing to pay attention to the serious issues raised by the SSTC, and to hold Montgomery County responsible for whitewashing their own part in the SSTC fiasco, only we can answer why we have failed to hold each culpable party responsible for their part.
However, all is not lost.
On Tuesday January 13, 2015 at 1:30 PM a public hearing will be held at the Montgomery County Council Hearing Room, 100 Maryland Avenue, in Rockville. The purpose of the public hearing is to present for approval a "supplemental appropriation and CIP amendment for $16,750,000" for "repairs" to the severely flawed, LEMON Silver Spring Transit Center. Those who wish to testify must call 240-777-7803 by 1/12/15 at 5 pm.
If Montgomery County's executive and council have their way, then $16,750,000 will be taken from the general fund, and $5,000,000 will be taken from other public works projects, to pay for "repairs" to the overdue, overbudget, severely flawed, LEMON Silver Spring Transit Center.
Is it worth it? Is it worth raiding the general fund of public money designated for "teacher, police and firefighter salaries and benefits; protection of the environment; important health initiatives; and much more"? Is it worth diverting funds from other well-designed and well-constructed public works projects for a severely flawed LEMON, a glorified parking garage on life support? Is it worth sucking public coffers dry to pay for extraordinarily high operations and maintenance costs, more "repairs", legal costs and other unknown extra expenses for the next five decades or more?
The clear answers to these questions are NO.
Are you going to let Montgomery County's executive and council have their way and raid the general fund and other projects to fund "repairs" to the LEMON SSTC? I hope not.
Let's have a BIG turnout from those inside and outside Montgomery County whose taxes and user fees have been spent for poor engineering design (Parsons Brinkerhoff), poor construction (Foulger Pratt, subcontractors), poor inspection and testing (Balter Co.), poor management (Montgomery County, Maryland Transit Administration, Federal Transit Administration), needed structural evaluations--because of the poor design, construction, inspection, testing and management--(KCE Structural Engineers, subconsultants, surveys, sampling, testing, etc.) and ill-advised "repairs" to the severely flawed, LEMON Silver Spring Transit Center.
Is it worth it? Is it worth raiding the general fund of public money designated for "teacher, police and firefighter salaries and benefits; protection of the environment; important health initiatives; and much more"? Is it worth diverting funds from other well-designed and well-constructed public works projects for a severely flawed LEMON, a glorified parking garage on life support? Is it worth sucking public coffers dry to pay for extraordinarily high operations and maintenance costs, more "repairs", legal costs and other unknown extra expenses for the next five decades or more?
The clear answers to these questions are NO.
Are you going to let Montgomery County's executive and council have their way and raid the general fund and other projects to fund "repairs" to the LEMON SSTC? I hope not.
Let's have a BIG turnout from those inside and outside Montgomery County whose taxes and user fees have been spent for poor engineering design (Parsons Brinkerhoff), poor construction (Foulger Pratt, subcontractors), poor inspection and testing (Balter Co.), poor management (Montgomery County, Maryland Transit Administration, Federal Transit Administration), needed structural evaluations--because of the poor design, construction, inspection, testing and management--(KCE Structural Engineers, subconsultants, surveys, sampling, testing, etc.) and ill-advised "repairs" to the severely flawed, LEMON Silver Spring Transit Center.
For those who are unable to attend, send your letters to George Leventhal, Chairman, Montgomery County Council, and ask that your letter be made part of the public record for the hearing.
It's way past time to stop the madness, and the bleeding, to pull the plug, and to cut the public's losses with the overdue, over-budget, severely flawed, LEMON Silver Spring Transit Center.
SHOW UP on Tuesday, Jan. 13 @ 1:30 PM
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| Silver Spring Transit Center aka Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center |
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