A few weeks ago, I wrote a short list of what I thought a good general manager candidate for Metro might bring with him. I suggested that they come from a system that is smaller than our Metro but is innovative and creative. I also thought it best that the candidate not be from some federal agency.

With the selection of John Catoe Jr., I think the board of directors has filled most but not all of the boxes. The Los Angeles transit system is a bit of an afterthought, and I wonder how a person coming from that environment will really get how important our system is.