Number 11 Volume 16 November 1988 e Assign Bu T ft 0 : rrABLE Happy Thanksgiving °F CONTENTS From the Headway Each year in the United States we set aside one day to meditate on the blessings we appreciate as its citizens. Jenkins Appointed To RTD Board Along with the freedoms and rights we enjoy as American citizens, we reap the benefits of a plentiful food supply and Division 3208 and 9306 Make Safety Roll the opportunity for personal success. A fitting way to RTD Rides in 16 de Septiembre Parade celebrate our gratitude would be to spend part of this Thanksgiving Day in giving to others who are less fortunate. Operator of the Month Even though America is the richest nation on earth, approxi- mately one-third of its families live below the poverty level Marketing News and will not get the chance to feast. There are those too who will be lucky to eat one good daily meal. Sharing with the Credit Union News needy will allow us to better appreciate what we have. As we celebrate Thanksgiving—November 24, 1988—remember to Notice of Asbestos give of yourself to make Thanksgiving Day a joyous occasion for all. Top Operators Public Commendations Those of us who work at the headquarters building on Main St. are acutely aware of the unfortunate, dispossessed Shifting Gears members of our affluent society. On a daily basis as we enter the building to begin our day's work many of us pass the Commendations homeless huddled in "cardboard condos" on the sidewalks, alcoholics passed out from the evening's binge, and the Schedule Changes mentally deranged who in their hopeless muddle and paranoia frighten us. Add to this the constant panhandling In Memoriam and the groups who prey on the vulnerable or anyone who happens to be on the street at the wrong time and you've got Facelift for a Museum Piece a demoralizing, potentially violent, and constantly fear- Kern Retires from 3216 ridden situation. Those employees who have already fallen victim to our mean streets will read this as an extreme Type of Bus: Plan or Luck? understatement. This month more of the headquarters stall who were dispersed after last year's earthquake are return- Mechanic Gives Love a Second Chance ing to the building. The threat the surrounding neighbor- hood presents to these returnees is renewed; many are To Your Health anxious about their return and fear for their safety when walking to and from either their parking lot or bus stop to RTD—Remembrance of Things Past the building. The nature of the neighborhood has been a problem Restaurant Review since I started working here. In that time there has been A Hole in One! much hue and cry and some action taken. One such ap- proach was to run a shuttle to outlying bus stops and Births parking lots in the downtown area to deliver and pick up employees at the building, another was a self-defense Social Security Adds New Phone Lines program sponsored by the Transit Police Department. These programs were canceled for lack of use and interest. If you Cooper Brings Home the Gold have an idea or a suggestion for effectively dealing with the neighborhood please send it to the Headway. We will publish RTD Goes to the Movies your suggestion in the next Headway and direct it to the appropriate department for implementation. We are looking Mrs. Transportation Dies at 102 for 'realistic, practical solutions, please. For Sale Mary E. Reyna Headway Editor NOVEMBER 1988 HEADWAY 2 Jenkins Appointed Divisions 3208 and 9306 To RTD Board Make the Safety Roll JeffJenkins, 26, a member of lst District County Supervisor Pete Schabarum's•staff, was appointed by the supervisor to the RTD Board of Direc- tors. Sworn in by District Secretary Helen Bolen on September 20, Jenkins replaces Director Erwin RTD Board Director Jeff Jones. "I think as a director Jenkins is sworn in by I will be working more District Secretary Helen closely with Supervisor Bolen on September 20. Schabarum. My views are closer in line with his," said nities," he said. Second Quarter Safe Performance Awards were given to Jenkins. As a staff aide to Division 9306 Manager Michael Bottone and Division 3208 Schabarum for the last two Manager Bill Griffin at the September 22 Board of Director's years, Jenkins said he has meeting. Front row, from left to right: Safety Engineering "I encourage contact, worked with RTD stall and Assistant Rufus Francis, Maintenance Instructor Chuck board members. "I look King, Division 3208 Manager Bill Griffin, and Director of and am waiting to forward to this appoint- Risk Management Barbara Akk. Back row, from left to right: ment. I have worked with General Manager Alan Pegg and Director Nick Patsaouras. hear new, the board in the past and I innovative ideas." like them. I think they are Safe Performance Awards last quarter, for a decrease thoughtful, unique individu- were presented to Division of 74 percent. The division is als." Jenkins also looks 3208 Manager Bill Griffin 57 percent below the n 1111111111 111M11111MI forward to interacting with and Division 9306 Manager District's goal of 9.0 lost The new director says the District community. "I Michael Bottone at the time injuries per 100,000 his primary concern for the encourage contact, and am September 22 Board of work hours. These impres- RTD is meeting the diverse waiting to hear new, Directors' meeting. sive safety gains were made demands of the region with innovative ideas. Employees The Safe Performance as the division increased its fewer transit dollars. "Given can call me anytime." Award Program continues to miles driven by 4 percent; the current 'situation, RTD Jenkins, who describes play a major role in the that is, 2,284,428 miles for will not be able to meet the himself as a conservative, reduction of fleet and the second quarter as expanding demands of pragmatist, and fiscal occupational accidents both compared to 2,198,300 in transportation in the realist, admits having in transportation and the first quarter. Division 8 county," said Jenkins. He ambitions toward elected maintenance. has won the award five sees a need to create the office. He is not married, Division 8's Perform- times previously. right atmosphere in order to "but looking," he said. ance reaped a 14 percent Transportation Man- provide the best public The new director decrease in fleet accidents ager Bill Griffin said that transit. The right atmos- attended Damian High from the first quarter. The Division 3208 has always phere according to Jenkins School in La Verne and, general manager's goal for been a good safety per- includes a lessening of later, the University of fleet accidents is 4.2 per former. "I think the contrib- tension between the RTD Denver. He holds a 100,000 miles; Division 8 uting factors to our success and LACTC, reducing bachelor's degree in busi- sets at 3.1 or 1.1 reports have been threefold. internal RTD costs, and ness administration from better. Even more impres- Namely, the Target Line brokering out of service. "It Cal Poly, Pomona. Jenkins sive is the division's reduc- Program with which we try is not in the best interest of resides in the city of tion in lost time injuries: 11 to improve operators' the RTD to limit its opportu- Walnut. lost time injuries below the continued on page 4... NOVEMBER 1988 HEADWAY 3 RTD Rides in 16 de Septiembre Parade Urso Chosen Greeting some of the nearly Operator of the Month goodwill in the community Operator of 300,000 spectators who Rogelio Chacon from and to say thanks to its lined the route of the annual Division 12. RTD Commu- many Hispanic patrons who the Month East Los Angeles parade nity Affairs Representative use RTD every day. Slightly held September 11 are bus Nell Soto is in the driver's more than half of the 1.3 operators Jose Arizmendi seat. million riders carried by the from Division 9, 1988 Bus RTD participated in the RTD each weekday are Roadeo winner and the June festive event to foster Hispanic. Ärei RIO BUS GiZ WINNER & OPERATOR Operator of the Month Dainton Urso. Division 15 Operator Dainton Urso was named Operator of the Month for August. He received a certificate of merit from the Jose Arizmendi, Rogelio Chacon, and Nell Soto participated in the 16 de Septiembre parade the RTD Board of Directors in East Los Angeles. on September 22. Urso has been an Operator with the District ...Safe Performance it rather than hiding his reported 15.3 incidents in for 13 years. He has re- ...continued from page 3 head in the sand like an the first quarter; these ceived the maximum performance; the change in ostrich," said King. decreased to 5.7 at the end amount of merits awarded claims administrators, we're Bottone, in a later of the second quarter. The to an operator with an getting a faster response interview, stated the success general manager's goal is outstanding performance now; and the instructors' of the division is all credited 8.5 lost time injuries per and safety record. In follow-ups to accidents," to communication. "I 100,000 hours, Division addition, he has received Griffin said. communicate with the 9306 is 2.8 reports below it. numerous letters of com- "Our instructors use mechanics. Together we The division showed a mendation from his division video cameras to tape work out the safety issues decrease of 4,021 in hours manager and the public. dangerous situations and before they become Prob- worked when compared to "Dainton Urso is a locations to focus the lems.