Daley: GOP Trying to Make Chicago Transit Authority the 'Scapegoat'

[marmar]

from the Sun-Times, via MassTransitMag:



GOP Trying to Make CTA the 'Scapegoat': Daley


Fran Spielman and Chris Fusco, The Chicago Sun-Times



Mayor Daley on Thursday accused Republican legislative leaders of demanding unwarranted transit fare increases and trying to make the CTA the "scapegoat" for Springfield's failure to agree on long-term funding for mass transit.

An aide to a top Republican responded that Daley's anger is misdirected: The mayor should be angry at Gov. Blagojevich and other Democrats who control the Legislature for letting the transit-funding crisis drag on.

Daley walked out of a Wednesday transit summit called by Blagojevich -- and would not attend a second meeting that was scheduled for Thursday but was abruptly canceled -- because the primary focus was on gambling, not transit.

Pressed on why he would not attend the follow-up meeting, Daley said, "My role is not to be the governor of the state of Illinois. That's his role and not my role."

Daley said that what little time was devoted to transit at the Wednesday meeting was spent beating up on the CTA.

"At one time, there was a scapegoat called the Board of Education. And now it seems like some politicians are . . . trying to make the CTA the scapegoat. And I defended the CTA," he said. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.masstransitmag.com/web/online/Top-Transit-News/GOP-Trying-to-Make-CTA-the-Scapegoat--Daley/3$4810