Gunn to be fired

[Anonymous]

The Associated Press is repoortingt that the Amtrak board meets today to fire president David Gunn.

[chad thomas]

For what?

[Anonymous]

This is new.

[chad thomas]

I found this on Progressive Railroading. Doesn't say anything about fireing Gunn though.

USDOT to tighten reins on Amtrak
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has taken a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on Amtrak to heart. The department plans to increase oversight of the national passenger railroad in light of the report’s criticism of Amtrak’s business procedures.

After reviewing Amtrak’s strategic planning, financial reporting and management practices, cost-containment strategies, acquisition management, and accountability and oversight, GAO concluded that the railroad needs to better measure and monitor performance, and improve financial controls.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta has called on Amtrak to implement the recommendations.

"For the past several years, I have been urging Amtrak to clean up its act and become more accountable to taxpayers and the traveling public," said Mineta in a prepared statement. "I hope this report will be a turning point for Amtrak."

Mineta has directed the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to obtain from Amtrak a plan to improve financial reporting and management practices. The FRA will monitor progress and issue an annual status report to Congress.

The USDOT also will require Amtrak to demonstrate how the railroad will improve acquisition practices before receiving federal grants, and develop clear measures of overall corporate performance. The USDOT will include the measures in annual reports issued to Congress, which also will note recommendations on how Congress can help the railroad reform.

[daveklepper]

Well, if Mineta can get away with murder, and indeed he did murder the New Orleans victims, I suppose they can fire Gunn!

If one of Mineta or Bush's croneys was in New Orleans with or without family, and lacked a car or money for an airplane ticket, they probably would have sent Airforce One to pick the family up, and a police escort and a limousine to get the family to the airport.

Evacuation is a transportation matter. Mineta's non action was murder.

They should fire the Board and not Gunn

You can quote me and my email is [e-mail]

[Big_Boy_4005]

As far as I know GAO stands for Government Accounting Office, not ACCOUNTABILITY. They are a bunch of bean counters, not finger pointers. Politicians take the reports and do the finger pointing. Sounds like the old agenda is back, and Gunn is doing things right if he has them so pissed off.

[vsmith]

Mineta and the republicans have had it out for Amtrack for a very long time now. Getting rid of Gunn sounds like a familiar tactic. Get rid of someone who knows what there doing, instead replace them with a political appointed lackey who knows nothing, then let them wreck it, so they can say, "look, its broken so we have to get rid of it"

This could be a first salvo in the dismantling of Amtrack

PS I didnt hear any headlines about reductions in subsidies to the airline industry. interesting.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

They are a bunch of bean counters, not finger pointers. Politicians take the reports and do the finger pointing. Gunn is doing things right if he has them so pissed off.

Tool the words right out of my mouth...

People who understand balance sheets but not railroads are upset because he would not bow to pressure in the "cost containment" dept.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Keep in mind that Congerssional member's pork projects are probably immune from GAO scrutiny. The GAO is more interested in finding things toilet seats and hammers that the taxpayers are being over charged for.[swg]

[Anonymous]

I hear he's being replaced by Michael Brown.

Mitch

[Chernobyl]

CNN.com has this news also.
The board is firing him, though its not really clear why, except maybe because the board was appointed by Bush.

Chern

[eolafan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by artmark

I hear he's being replaced by Michael Brown.

Mitch

[#oops] Does this mean all Amtrak trains would run in the opposite direction from what was intended?

[CG9602]

Norm Mineta criticisng Dave Gunn? Please [:(!] Norm Mineta has done more damage to Amtrak than anything Dave Gunn has ever done. Dave Gunn, if anything, has had the guts to speak the truth regarding Amtrak, and has instituted significant changes, has re-started the Beech Grove repair lines (which his predecessor had shut down as a cost-cutting measure), and has been a lot more forthcoming in the atmosphere and circumstances which Amtrak has to function. What's Norm Mineta done? He's mislead people regarding Amtrak's profitability, which lines are profitable (hint: it isn't the short distance runs - they are the most expensive and LEAST profitable), he's lied about ridership regarding Amtrak's intercity trains (see examples: SW Cheif and Empire Builder), and demonstrated complete ignorance of the nature of long-distance trains being a different creature than short distance trains.

If anything, it is Norm Mineta who should be sacked - not Dave Gunn.
Contact your elected officials, everyone.

[SALfan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

As far as I know GAO stands for Government Accounting Office, not ACCOUNTABILITY. They are a bunch of bean counters, not finger pointers. Politicians take the reports and do the finger pointing. Sounds like the old agenda is back, and Gunn is doing things right if he has them so pissed off.

The name changed recently. They do a lot of studies/audits/evaluations of various government entities and functions, along with a few oddball functions that don't fit any other place in the government.

Like another post, I wi***hey would get busy and expose some of the ridiculous pork barrel spending that goes on. However, they work for Congress, not the executive branch, so they aren't going to bite the hand that feeds them.

[railroad65]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/09/business/main1028089.shtml

[chad thomas]

From Progressive Railroading:

Amtrak fires Gunn, launches national search for new leader
Today, Amtrak’s board fired President and Chief Executive Officer David Gunn. The national intercity passenger railroad needs a new leader to “intensify the pace and broaden the scope of reforms,” board members said in a prepared statement.

The board named Amtrak Chief Engineer David Hughes acting president and chief executive officer while board members search for a new leader.

"David Gunn has helped Amtrak make important operational improvements over the past three years,” said board chair David Laney. “Amtrak's future now requires a different type of leader who will aggressively tackle the company's financial, management and operational challenges. The need to bring fundamental change to Amtrak is greater and more urgent than ever before. Now, we need a leader with vision and experience to get the job done."

The board is working to implement strategic reform initiatives introduced in April that would help the railroad improve service and financial performance. The initiatives call for shared federal-state financial responsibility for intercity passenger rail and predictable multi-year federal funding.

Last week, a report released by the Government Accountability Office determined Amtrak needs to strengthen its basic business procedures in order to achieve financial stability and meet future operating challenges.

In May 2002, Gunn came out of retirement to take the helm at Amtrak. He previously served as the chief of transit systems in New York and Washington, D.C.

[zardoz]

This is the beginning of the end of Amtrak as we know it.

Will "Amtrak:The Next Generation" be any better?

And if so, 'better' by what definition, what parameters?

[Anonymous]

Just saw senator Byron Dorgan commenting on this on C-Span2. He said "David Gunn was nobody's crony, and for that he was fired".

[Anonymous]

i'm so angry i could spit

1. they are going to appoint some flunky who'll have his hands tied
2. after a year or two of not fixing anything, the government will say, "see? it can't be fixed"
3. and adios, amtrak

cr@p.

[samfp1943]

From The Associated Press:Back to Story - Help
Amtrak President David Gunn Is Fired By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer
40 minutes ago



Amtrak's board of directors on Wednesday fired President David Gunn, saying the debt-laden rail carrier needs "a leader with vision and experience."

Gunn has struggled to maintain Amtrak service amid a sinking financial picture and a push by the White House and some in Congress to recraft it as a group of regional inter-city companies.

"Amtrak's future now requires a different type of leader who will aggressively tackle the company's financial, management and operational challenges," Amtrak Chairman David Laney said in a statement.

"The board approved a strategic plan in April that provides a blueprint for a stronger and more sustainable Amtrak. Now we need a leader with vision and experience to get the job done."

Gunn, who assumed the post in 2002 after having headed transit systems in New York City, Washington and Toronto, could not be reached for comment.

Sen. Charles Schumer (news, bio, voting record), D-N.Y., who has fought against a Bush administration effort to end subsidies for the struggling passenger rail service, praised Gunn as "a brilliant manager."

The senator called Gunn's removal "a crushing blow to Amtrak's hopes for success and reform."

In September, Amtrak's board approved a resolution authorizing splitting off the Northeast Corridor, which accounts for the largest share of the railroad's ridership. That region could be operated by a federal-state consortium.

The Bush administration favors the idea, but critics say it will destroy Amtrak.

Amtrak has never made money in its 34-year history and an operating loss of more than $550 million was expected for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. The railroad has a debt of more than $3.5 billion.

The White House has called for an end to subsidies for Amtrak, but the House has approved an appropriation of nearly $1.2 billion for this budget year.

In recent months, Amtrak has been besieged by problems up and down the line, from equipment breakdowns to big-ticket budget woes.

Earlier this year, Amtrak suspended all high-speed Acela service between Washington, New York City, and Boston, due to cracks discovered in the brakes.

A report issued last week by the Government Accountability Office, the auditing arm of Congress, said the company needs to improve the way it monitors performance and oversees its finances in order to reach firm financial footing.

"The company is likely to need outside help in developing a comprehensive approach to address internal control weaknesses and improve the financial information for management and external stakeholders," the report found.

The GAO recommended that the transportation secretary direct the Federal Railroad administrator to: require Amtrak to submit a plan laying out specifically how it will improve its financial operations; provide Amtrak with direction on how to do so; and monitor the railroad's performance and report to Congress on Amtrak's progress.

Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, who also sits on Amtrak's board, called the report "unusual, if not unprecedented, in the scope of its review and the severity of its indictment." He urged the board to "stop and take a fresh look on how to proceed in the face of this nonpartisan, objective report of systemic failure."




Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.


Copyright © 2005 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
I guess that this proves once again, that "NO GOOD DEED WILL GO UNPUNISHED IN WASHINGTON."

[overall]

He was doing too good of a job there. He was helping preserve Amtrak. The Highway establishment wants Amtrak gone and they won.

Where do we go from here?

George

[Anonymous]

From what I understand, the Bush Adminstration has always said Amtrak must be self sufficient. Gunn has publicly state that Amtrak needs to have federal subsidies in order to operate. Obviously, Mr. Gunn is not being a team player thus it makes sense for him to be fired. Mr. Gunn has done s fabulous job with streamlining and improving Amtrak these past few years but he refused to go along with the Bush Adminstration's policy of no subsidies. He didn't give his superiors the answer they wanted to hear. So obviously he had to befired. He dug his own grave.

[oltmannd]

Amtrak has a lot of Senate and HR support. Both have budgeted a lot more $$ than Sec DOT asked for. The Lott Laughtenberg bill was particularly interesting. It has more in it than Amtrak asked for.

However, NOBODY has yet told Amtrak exactly what their mission is. Lots of proposals to fund it this way or that, ideas to cut costs, etc. but not one word on why or which.

Amtrak is so ham-strung by labor agreements that the cost of "no Amtrak" is almost the same as "full Amtrak", at least for the next several years - unless bankurptcy can force the labor agreements to be broken - which isn't likely given Congress being willing to fund the status-quo (or maybe even a bit more)

Prediction: a more expensive, less filling tuna sandwich in the cafe car and a declaration of "Victory" by Mineta. (and perhaps a sacrificial (mercy?) killing of the Sunset)

[TomDiehl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DJLPhantom

From what I understand, the Bush Adminstration has always said Amtrak must be self sufficient. Gunn has publicly state that Amtrak needs to have federal subsidies in order to operate. Obviously, Mr. Gunn is not being a team player thus it makes sense for him to be fired. Mr. Gunn has done s fabulous job with streamlining and improving Amtrak these past few years but he refused to go along with the Bush Adminstration's policy of no subsidies. He didn't give his superiors the answer they wanted to hear. So obviously he had to befired. He dug his own grave.

And why should Bush care? Him and his rich cronies have their SUV and limo convoys they can ride around in. They certainly wouldn't lower themselves to use PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. Gunn was the best man available for the job, but since he wouldn't get on board with the plan to bury Amtrak, he's history.

Maybe he'll shut down the Northeast Corridor and take the whole area from gridlock to parking lot.

[bnsfkline]

my god

David Gunn was the best thing to ever happen to Amtrak

[jeaton]

Some of you may have caught on to the fact that Gunn and I both worked at the ICG in the early 70's. Dave is one of the smartest people I have ever had the privilege to know and his ability to get the most out of difficult situations is widely respected by those that have knowledge of his performance.

Gunn himself has stated that the problem he has with running a place like Amtrak is that the ideologues don't want to hear anything that runs counter to there world view. But, when things get in a jam, they will go to people with the chops to get thing straight. Once the crisis appears to be over, they will get somebody that is a political hack. Qualifications? Demonstrated ablilty to manage a one car funeral prossesion. Excellent suck up ability a plus.

Based on a short visit we had last summer, I do not think this action was unexpected.

Jay

[Modelcar]

DJL: It's obvious Mr. Gunn was not a yes man.....And anyone who thinks Amtrak or any other viable rail passenger system doesn't need financial help is living in a pipe dream. That same example can go for airlines too.....with very few exceptions.

[Anonymous]

So David Gunn gets a pink slip for standing up to Congress and giving them the truth about Amtrak and what needs to be done to fix it. What gives with the current administration's inability to handle the truth? And what does being a team player have to do with Gunn keeping his job. Go with the team, and risk missing something crucial to Amtrak's survival, or be the boss, make tough decisions and inject some new ideas into the business. Much remains to be done with Amtrak, so why fire the person in the know? Compassionate conservatism? Hardly. [:(]

[oltmannd]

I can't believe nobody else has said this yet....

Aren't Gun(n)s made for firing?[;)]

[daveklepper]

May I point out that the World View involves our soldiers fighting in Iraq while the USA funds the half the terrorist they are fighting by continuing to buy oil from Saudi Arabia and claiming the Saudis (who even fund textbooks for American Muslims kids that teach hatred for Christians and Jews) are our allies. It is a World View that is out of kilter with the real world. As far as subidies for Amtrak, the World View does not consider LAND USE in figuring the the subsidies for airports and highways.

The Democrats aren't any better as far Kerry goes or there would have been a North Station - South Station rail connector in conjuction with or instead of the Big Dig (and that is just one example)

It is also a World View that killed 10,000 New Orleans USA Citizens.