While I am disappointed to learn of Ms. Richardson’s decision to step aside before her term expires, I am not surprised given the lack of support she received from the majority of directors and General Manager.
This “pattern of obstruction,” as cited by the Alameda County Grand Jury report of June 2022, limited Ms. Richardson’s ability to conduct independent oversight and ensure the responsible use of public resources.
I, along with Directors McPartland and Ames, advocated fiercely in support of the Inspector General’s attempts to bring accountability and transparency to BART, but our efforts were often opposed or ignored by other board members and within the ranks of senior management. On multiple occasions, Ms. Richardson was insulted and bullied by a sitting board member, while behind closed doors others worked to openly discredit her work and derail her efforts to establish her office. She deserved better. A lot better.
I want to thank Ms. Richardson for her tireless efforts and professionalism under difficult and unfortunate circumstances, and I wish her well in her future endeavors.
This statement is issued only on behalf of and by Debora Allen and not on behalf of any other board members. Requests for comment can be directed to Debora Allen at 925-391-8866.
Debora Allen | BART Director, District 1
Editors Note:
Senator Glazer’s Statement on BART Inspector General Richardson’s Resignation
Harriet Richardson has been a stellar example of a public servant who works for the good of the people. The first-ever Inspector General for BART after the post was created in 2018, Harriet carried out her job with professionalism and an objective pursuit of the truth, no matter where it took her. She displayed tenacity and independence with an auditor’s green-eyeshade level of scrutiny, performing admirable work under adverse circumstances.
Richardson’s resignation Monday as Inspector General for BART came after nearly four years protecting the traveling public by holding BART accountable. She found tens of millions of dollars in fraud, conflict of interest and wasteful financial practices. — click here
3 comments
BART is controlled by social do-gooders who have no business running a transit agency. They want BART to be a rolling social services agency, rather than an actual TRANSIT service. And BART is reaping the rewards with greatly reduced ridership and fare revenues. They pay no attention to the reality that in a year, or so, the subsidies from government agencies will run out, resulting in even worse service to BART riders. Then they will guilt the public onto voting for another tax increase, to cover their deficiencies. When we say NO MORE it is going to be a very bad day for them
To paraphrase her statement: “Its not my fault, its those other directors.” Fingerpointing.
If you get pushed on to BART’s train tracks by a POS whacko drug addict, roll under the platform if a train is coming and then you won’t get hit by train according to BART’s website. After Dorothy Duggert left, BART went to hell followed by Officer Perroni causing the Kaos on the BART platform NYE resulting in the Oscar Grant tragedy and then cutting a deal with DA with Perroni making Mesherle the fall guy when Perroni was 100% at fault for what happened that night. Sorry Oscar. It was NYE. I still think about you and your friends that were with you that night which I believe are all deceased now too from other acts of violence. R.I.P. Thank goodness for Smartphones which have become useful in so many different ways in solving crime.
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