Mr. Gajda to Mr. Anderson: Bike Program has a mere 9 staffers

Mr. Anderson:

The Bicycle Program staff total is currently 9. This total includes new staff. One staff person has yet to be added to our web site. Thank you for your continued interest in our program.

Best Regards,

Oliver J. Gajda

Mr. Gajda:

I read in the SF Chronicle of June 3 that MTA is hiring "nine new staffers to focus on bicycle transit in the city." Are those really new hires or does that number include present staff? I count eight staffers on your MTA site. If they are new hires, that would bring city bike staff up to 17. Is that right?

Regards,

Rob Anderson

17 staffers for MTA's Bicycle Program?

I was surprised to read in last Tuesday's SF Chronicle that MTA is planning to hire "nine new staffers to focus on bicycle transit in the city." The city's Bicycle Program already has eight staffers listed on MTA's website. Nine more will bring staff for the Bicycle Program up to seventeen, a remarkable staffing level for a city that is simultaneously eliminating 1,085 city government jobs because of a $338 million budget deficit. Mayor Newsom's budget will mean closing a homeless shelter in the Western Addition, the Health Drop-In Center in the Tenderloin, the Caduceus Outreach Services (psychiatric services for the severely disabled homeless), 20 gardening positions for Golden Gate Park will go unfilled, fines for parking violations under $100 will go up another $10, residential parking permits will go up from $60 to $74, etc.

Nevertheless, the great bicycle fantasy must move forward!