Funding: Emery-Go-Round Is Dragged,
Kicking & Screaming
Opinion
The free bus service in Emeryville, Emery Go Round, has acquiesced over charges made recently by the Tattler that the company has been disingenuous with regard to its funding sources. The transportation company changed its website today to reflect the fact, publicly revealed by the Tattler last week, that the City of Emeryville helps fund the bus service and that Emery Go Round's previous proclamations that it is solely a function of business in Emeryville is in error. It appears that the bus company is starting to correct the formerly inaccurate information with its website.
From the 'about' section on the website:
"The Emery Go-Round shuttle is a free, private transportation service, open to all Emeryville residents, shoppers, visitors and employees of Emeryville businesses. The the (sic) vast majority of funding for the Emery Go-Round shuttle is provided by commercial property owners in the citywide transportation business improvement district."
The top masthead of the website still proclaims that the service is provided by Emeryville's businesses. The buses themselves also still proclaim the service is provided by Emeryville's businesses. A complete list of contributors, including the City of Emeryville and the Emery Unified School District can be found at the Emeryville Property Owners Association website HERE.
We find it perplexing and (darkly) humorous that Emery Go Round is being brought to this public acknowledgment of the facts, kicking and screaming. The new text on the website tells it all; the reticence for this company to give any credit to the people of Emeryville is obvious in the selection of the words, "vast majority of funding" coming from commercial property owners. The publicly funded Emery Go Round could have instead said a more congenial and truthful, "funded by businesses and the City of Emeryville".
We wonder why the company is so loath to give the people of Emeryville credit for their contributions. We're left with our suspicions: Emery Go Round is wont to forward their meme about the sacrosanct nature of private enterprise and the fallacy that government can be a source for solutions.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors for Emery Go Round, Peter Oswald told the Tattler the Board would "look into" changing the signage on the buses to include listing the City of Emeryville among the funding sources.
We look forward to the government funded Emery Go Round fully crediting everyone who makes the service possible. We'll be watching to see if the bus signage is changed to reflect the horrible, uncomfortable truth they can't seem to fully acknowledge.
I think it's more likely the Emery-Go-Round is trying to stay off the radar in terms of budget cuts from the City. And there are legal issues as well - I mean what are the regulations about a City providing its own bus service?
ReplyDeleteYeah the residents should get some credit for their contribution but there's probably more to this story that simple glory hogging.
FYI Emery Go Round has not, in all its years, credited anyone but Emeryville's businesses for the funding. This is not a new post budget crisis culture at the company.
DeleteAlso I'm suggesting something greater than simple glory-hogging going on here...It's more likely a cheerleader attitude for business in general and a dislike of the idea of government as a solution provider.
The Emery Go Round is paid for by a "Business Improvement District as described in the Engineer's Report on the EPOA.US website. The City of Emeryville contributes as a land owner, the same as every property owner, by a formula decided by the City Council, with a recomendation by the EGR Board.
DeleteThe Emery-Go-Round web site incorrectly states the amount of the assessmewnt is approved by the Emery-Go-Round Board.
A copy of the Engineer's Report and the Assessment Roll of contributors for 2011-2012 is available at EPOA.US web page.
Michael, why do you feel compelled to open your pie hole and display your ignorance to the world?
DeleteBecause Michael is already running for City Council again and he somehow thinks his "pie hole" will help him. Go figure.
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