TTC collector dozes on duty; infamous picture sets off debate (photo by Jason Wieler)

All things considered, it has been a less than stellar month for Canada’s largest pubic transportation system.

The veritable Toronto Transit Commission, the historic ‘Red Rocket’ has been stung recently by a series of what can only be considered public relations disasters.

It all began January 9, 2010 when a transit rider snapped a cell phone picture of a TTC fare collector in his booth, apparently sleeping on the job (Jason Wieler photo). This may have seemed like an innocuous action by a bemused patron, but it quickly set off a firestorm among TTC management and staff, not to mention an irate public.

After being covered by nearly every newspaper in the country, the story rapidly made the rounds of television networks and eventually onto the internet, in the form of multiple YouTube videos that have been viewed thousands of times, and prompted this response from transit union president Bob Kinnear:

“Whatever the outcome of the inquiry, it is very discouraging that the picture taker and, apparently, other customers, made no attempt to determine if there was anything wrong with this TTC employee. A simple knock on the glass might have determined if the Collector was, in fact, asleep, or whether he was unconscious as a result of some medical problem. The reports that passengers were laughing at him as they passed by the booth makes this even more disturbing. The union will comment further at an appropriate time.”

This apparent health-care-inspired dig at supposedly unconcerned TTC riders did not go far towards alleviating the anger generated by a seemingly inattentive TTC employee.

To be fair, transit workers in any big city, even Toronto, face a good deal of crap on the job; surly and inebriated passengers, fights, and all manner of disgusting bodily functions. However, despite the unpleasant elements, it is still a relatively well-paying job that comes with union benefits, and individuals sleeping on duty should not be tolerated, much less actually bolstered by the union president, when such an obvious dereliction of duty has taken place.

The picture and photo also set transit union members seeing red, and sparked a bitter online battle between TTC riders and staff on Facebook.

The Facebook page ‘Toronto Transit Operators against public harassment,’ meant to be a forum for TTC employees, was hijacked after irate passengers became disgruntled over comments made by TTC staff venting their frustrations at the negative media attention they were receiving.

All of which highlights the serious problems that can be expected when service is reduced due to severe budget restraints in the largest public transit system in North America that relies on nearly 70% of its funding through the fares. Now on the heels of this debacle comes news that TTC Chairman and Toronto Mayoral candidate Adam Giambrone is battling some personal demons of his own.

Giambrone, 32, has this week admitted to having an affair with a 20 year-old aspiring model and university student, Kristen Lucas, after the story broke in the Toronto Star.

Giambrone, who called the tryst ‘a serious lapse in judgment,’ professed his ‘deepest apology to my partner Sarah (McQuarrie), my family and friends, for the pain and embarrassment my indiscretion will cause them.’

Kristen Lucas, Adam Giambrone and Sarah McQuarrie (photo by Carlos Osorio/Toronto Star)

In the Star interview with Lucas, she claims to have had a sexual relationship with Giambrone for over a year, culminating with several in flagrante delicto meetings at his City Hall office, and that he insisted his involvement with McQuarrie, his self described ‘longtime, live-in partner,’ was strictly for ‘political reasons’ for the duration of his Mayoral campaign.

Lucas even provided the Star with text messages she exchanged with Giambrone that seem to confirm the intimate details of their relationship.

For the moment, it appears that Giambrone has escaped complete vilification for his actions, and he has vowed to continue in his quest to become Toronto’s next Mayor.

It does however raise numerous questions about the judgment of the head of the nation’s largest transit system, already suffering from a major public relations onslaught due to the ongoing perception of decreased services despite repeated fare increases, as well as the now certain to follow sordid details of his illicit private life.

‘The Better Way’ has surely seen better days of late.

TTC Postcard circa 1962

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Tags: adam giambrone, kristen lucas, Toronto Transit Commission

This entry was posted on Friday, February 12th, 2010 at 4:53 pm and is filed under Municipal Government, Toronto Transit Commission. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.