MBTA chief might need to buy a car again

With the success of his MBTA locomotive logo contest (success as in distraction from real MBTA woes) how long before Mr. Davey launches the Big Dig logo contest? Surfboard? Life-Ring? Avalanche?

NO!!!!!!!!!

He was the only good thing to happen to the T since the removal of the El! (The Atlantic Ave one, not the Orange Line!)

Okay, Governor Patrick, your quest to replace the so-called "fat cats" in the agencies and authorities with moderately paid people who will do your bidding has gone far enough.

Mr. Davey, who is a very nice guy, and who at least had a little bit of experience in public transit prior to being made the head of the T, is simply not qualified to head up the entire state transportation system.

Again, I like Davey, but this is outrageous. Think about this - our current head of DOT has nearly as many years experience with Massachusetts transportation issues as Mr. Davey has had living on this earth (disclosure: Davey and I are close in age, but I do not know him personally). I am sorry, but the head of DOT is not a position for on the job training. And the line of argument that "maybe too much experience is a liability" is crap. Arguably the single most important aspect of this job is knowing how the federal transportation agencies work, and knowing the legal and political landscape (often shaped by historical events) on which the FHA, FAA and other federal transportation outfits operate. That comes only with experience, as each one of them has a body of law, personnel and institutional procedures of their own. While I am know he is a talented lawyer and administrator, Mr. Davey simply has not been alive long enough to have amassesed a broad enough base of knowledge.

I'm sorry if I seem down on Davey, because that is not my intent. He is good - possibly great - where he is. I am pissed at the Governor. This is the latest in his nonsensical position that people should feel privileged to work in state government, and should be paid well below market as a result of that privilege. Has anyone stopped to ask why Massport does not have a new CEO yet (excepting CommonWealth Magazine - sorry, I can't find the link)? I'll save you the trouble of asking - the reason is because all of the qualified candidates are saying F.U. to the salary, because every CEO of a large airport operator in this country gets paid at least what Tom Kinton did - most get paid more and some substantially moree - and no one is going to take on a job with that kind of career and reptutation risk for what the Governor is leaning on the Massport Board to pay the next CEO.

I want the most talented and qualified people possible heading up the most important agencies of state government (of which transportation is arguably #1). And underpaying them for the privilege of serving in state government is not the way to attract such personnel.

Perhaps he could do car-sharing or Hubway!