Leggett deserves recall for secret land deal Re: “County covering up Leggett’s backroom Brickyard deal,” From Readers, Jan. 18
Montgomery Council member Roger Berliner stated at the Jan. 11th meeting of the West Montgomery County Citizens Association that County Executive Ike Leggett “committed” to a deal for a private soccer field development before the public was notified.
I am appalled at Leggett’s unethical conduct in clandestinely repurposing taxpayer-supported public school property located on Brickyard Road without due public process. I am equally appalled that County Council members have been publicly mute on this issue for more than two years.
Who is responsible for oversight of a county executive who, in his last term of office, has dedicated himself to political favoritism and lining the pockets of private corporations by giving away public land? Council members should be impeaching the county executive for intentionally circumventing the law and the democratic process.
I would go further and recommend a recall.
Mary Kathleen Ernst
Potomac
Metro’s capital rebuilding program is improving safety
Re: “A thousand more workers won’t fix Metro,” Local Editorial, Jan. 16
I want to set the record straight about Metro’s proposed 2013 budget, particularly with respect to continuing critical safety and reliability investments. The budget provides for the continued rebuilding of the system and important safety improvements, such as work to meet safety recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board. After years of lack of investment, we are making progress.
Over the last year, we installed more than 21 miles of new rail, rehabilitated or replaced 43 escalators and three elevators, completed multiple station projects, rehabilitated 100 older buses and placed 116 new hybrid electric buses and 241 MetroAccess vehicles into service. In addition, escalator availability reached a high of 90 percent in November, and crime on the system is down nearly 20 percent over last year.
The jobs called for in the budget support and expand this important work. In fact, more than 90 percent of the new jobs created are focused on safety, state of good repair, and higher maintenance levels, as well as expansion of service to Washington Dulles International Airport. The budget also expands rail rush hour service, improves bus service and adds police officers.
The costs are shared with the supporting jurisdictions and customers through fares. The proposed fare changes eliminate the unpopular peak of the peak surcharge, while applying a relatively modest average five percent increase for rail peak period SmarTrip users. Bus fares for SmarTrip riders would increase by a dime — from $1.50 to $1.60. If the new fares are adopted, the change in ridership is projected to be only 1 percent.
Sufficient resources for Metro’s capital rebuilding program and day-to-day operations will deliver the improvements our customers expect and deserve.
Richard R. Sarles
General Manager and CEO,
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Constitution has a remedy for Obama’s power grab
Re: “Obama’s one-man rule thumbs nose at Founders,” Jan. 14
Michael Barone raises a few interesting points. If the president has in fact violated the Constitution, why would that not be grounds for articles of impeachment from the House of Representatives?
After all, the president did swear under oath to uphold the Constitution, which he is clearly not doing.
Douglas R. Turner
Amston, Conn.
