METRA: THE WAY TO REALLY FLY…AWAY WITH OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY

7/10/13

Metra Board Chairman Brad O’Halloran (pictured) did an interview with the Chicago Tribune yesterday in an effort  to cool the heat that will burn in his seat as he undergoes grillings from various governmental and quasi-governmental bodies this week regarding about the strange, unmerited, and at least extra-legal quarter million dollar severance kiss Metra gave its failed CEO Alex Clifford.

Mr. O’Halloran blasted those who think Mr. Clifford’s sweet deal was part of some sort of secrecy pact designed to keep the deep, dark secrets of Metra incompetence, or worse, deep and dark at least until Mr. O’Halloran and his cronies can make off with bundles of cash similar to those they gave Mr. Clifford.  Mr. O’Halloran explained that his critics have been “flat out wrong” and that Mr. Clifford was fired for poor performance.  Mr. O’Halloran specifically cited Mr. Clifford’s decision to increase the cost of 10 ride Metra passes, which eliminated any dollar benefit from buying the passes (See 4/21/13’s now seminal post THE METRA BOARD:   PARADISE FOR POLTROONS, POPINJAYS, AND PATRONAGE PARASITES) and Mr. Clifford’s approval of the construction of the Englewood Flyover, which might sound like a lot of things but is in reality a railroad bridge on the south side, for $93 million.

There are at least two problems with Mr. O’Halloran’s bleatings, other than the obvious, i.e., that if poor performance were grounds for dismissal, Mr. O’Halloran, the whole Metra board, and about 95% of the public and quasi-public servants in this state would be out of work.

First, Mr. O’Halloran’s listing of examples of Mr. Clifford’s incompetence explains why Mr. Clifford was fired, but does not explain why Mr. Clifford was entitled to a quarter million severance package.  Indeed, this listing of Mr. Clifford’s shortcomings undercuts the argument for such a reward.

Second, the Metra Board approved both the Englewood Flyover boondoggle and the bone-headed hike in the 10 ride pass.  Mr. O’Halloran himself voted for the latter.  If the hike in the price of the 10 ride fare pass were sufficient grounds for Mr. Clifford’s sacking (It was; again, see my 4/21 post.), and Mr. O’Halloran voted for it, the implications for Mr. O’Halloran’s continued service on the board should be obvious.

The performance of Mr. O’Halloran in l’affaire Clifford just adds further evidence to a point I made on 4/21, to wit…

…the Metra board is a repository for hacks, hangers-on, suck-ups, toadies, lackeys, and other virtually unemployables. 

This is Illinois, however, so Metra’s board is not at all unique in this respect.

See my two books, The Chairman, A Novel of Big City Politics and The Chairman’s Challenge, A Continuing Novel of Big City Politics, for further illumination on how things work in Chicago and Illinois politics.