Still no improvement in London's transport system
There is one thing about Hizonner the Mayor. He is really rather old-fashioned. He may be a socialist (some days of the week) and an old-time supporter of trade union rights (until he has to negotiate with them himself, but it was ever thus); he may be Europhile who thinks that entering the euro is on par politically speaking with adopting summer time on a permanent basis; but when it comes to trying to find someone he thinks might be efficient, where does he turn? To the United States.
That’s right. Just as in those old Ealing comedies, efficiency and achievement means “get a Yank”. Unfortunately, he got the wrong Yank. New Yorkers could not believe their luck when Bob Kiley left their rather benighted subway system for the greener pastures of London.
At the time Hizonner explained the Bob Kiley was worth every penny of his inflated salary because he was the man who had turned the New York subway system round and will do so with the London underground. And another thing, Kiley was described as a former CIA agent. Must be efficient.
Well, it is sad to destroy such old-fashioned illusions, but I fear, I do so fear, Mr Kiley has turned out to be a dud. Presumably, Hizonner persists in his habit of not using London transport and his staff may do likewise. Otherwise, somebody would have noticed that the tube is shambolic, the new buses are relatively useful but add to the congestion on some inappropriate routes, and Londoners are beginning to get rather restive.
Maybe Hizonner should read some history or watch some Shakespeare. He would then realize that the London mob can be a fearful thing.
The truth is that anyone can say they used to be in the CIA. Who is to contradict him or go into any detail as to what he might have been doing there?
Another truth is that while Kiley took over the New York subway system when a large dollop of money had just been allocated, he did not manage to introduce any lasting improvements. The subway system is just about the one thing in New York that does not work satisfactorily.
Under Kiley’s management it became more dangerous than it used to be, while the rest of New York City is considerably safer now than London. His stewardship had also been embellished with a gubernatorial enquiry into allegations of cronyism and fat-cat salaries. Clearly, just the sort of man to bring in at the head of Transport for London.
Well, the questions are beginning to be asked here but our own Mayor does not seem to share Mario Cuomo’s courage: he is not about to investigate Mr Kiley’s operations, even though the London Assembly is beginning to complain about the man’s behaviour. (One fight with the Assembly at a time, presumably.)
So, what has Mr Kiley achieved? Well, he was paid £700,000 last year, well above what his contract stipulates. The number of his executives earning in excess of £100,000 has risen from 12 to 22 and the number of those on more than £50,000 has doubled. Several of the higher paid ones are his old mates from NYC.
All this is detailed in a somewhat chaotic article in the Evening Standard, which also quotes various complaints from pre-Kiley employees of the transport system and its management. That, I have to say, leaves me cold: the system was appallingly badly run then, as well.
In the meantime, Hizonner is threatening to raise fares again (they have just gone up as is normal in the new year, well above the level of inflation). His threats are tied to the uppity behaviour of members of the London Assembly. However, if this were a real democracy, the demands voiced by said members, that Hizonner should close down his propaganda rag, The Londoner, would hold. Instead, the money will be taken out of the transport budget.
Then there is Kiley’s threat to extend the congestion charge throughout London, thus making Londoners prisoners in their own homes without any terrorist charges. To be fair, Hizonner is distancing himself from that plan but is insisting on extending the unsatisfactory, inefficient and harmful system to Kensington and Chelsea, despite almost unanimous opposition.
Will Mr Kiley explain? On present record, no. But, presumably, even his contract is not written in tablets of stone.
That’s right. Just as in those old Ealing comedies, efficiency and achievement means “get a Yank”. Unfortunately, he got the wrong Yank. New Yorkers could not believe their luck when Bob Kiley left their rather benighted subway system for the greener pastures of London.
At the time Hizonner explained the Bob Kiley was worth every penny of his inflated salary because he was the man who had turned the New York subway system round and will do so with the London underground. And another thing, Kiley was described as a former CIA agent. Must be efficient.
Well, it is sad to destroy such old-fashioned illusions, but I fear, I do so fear, Mr Kiley has turned out to be a dud. Presumably, Hizonner persists in his habit of not using London transport and his staff may do likewise. Otherwise, somebody would have noticed that the tube is shambolic, the new buses are relatively useful but add to the congestion on some inappropriate routes, and Londoners are beginning to get rather restive.
Maybe Hizonner should read some history or watch some Shakespeare. He would then realize that the London mob can be a fearful thing.
The truth is that anyone can say they used to be in the CIA. Who is to contradict him or go into any detail as to what he might have been doing there?
Another truth is that while Kiley took over the New York subway system when a large dollop of money had just been allocated, he did not manage to introduce any lasting improvements. The subway system is just about the one thing in New York that does not work satisfactorily.
Under Kiley’s management it became more dangerous than it used to be, while the rest of New York City is considerably safer now than London. His stewardship had also been embellished with a gubernatorial enquiry into allegations of cronyism and fat-cat salaries. Clearly, just the sort of man to bring in at the head of Transport for London.
Well, the questions are beginning to be asked here but our own Mayor does not seem to share Mario Cuomo’s courage: he is not about to investigate Mr Kiley’s operations, even though the London Assembly is beginning to complain about the man’s behaviour. (One fight with the Assembly at a time, presumably.)
So, what has Mr Kiley achieved? Well, he was paid £700,000 last year, well above what his contract stipulates. The number of his executives earning in excess of £100,000 has risen from 12 to 22 and the number of those on more than £50,000 has doubled. Several of the higher paid ones are his old mates from NYC.
All this is detailed in a somewhat chaotic article in the Evening Standard, which also quotes various complaints from pre-Kiley employees of the transport system and its management. That, I have to say, leaves me cold: the system was appallingly badly run then, as well.
In the meantime, Hizonner is threatening to raise fares again (they have just gone up as is normal in the new year, well above the level of inflation). His threats are tied to the uppity behaviour of members of the London Assembly. However, if this were a real democracy, the demands voiced by said members, that Hizonner should close down his propaganda rag, The Londoner, would hold. Instead, the money will be taken out of the transport budget.
Then there is Kiley’s threat to extend the congestion charge throughout London, thus making Londoners prisoners in their own homes without any terrorist charges. To be fair, Hizonner is distancing himself from that plan but is insisting on extending the unsatisfactory, inefficient and harmful system to Kensington and Chelsea, despite almost unanimous opposition.
Will Mr Kiley explain? On present record, no. But, presumably, even his contract is not written in tablets of stone.
posted by Helen at 6:34 PM
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