BART Inspector General Resigns, Accuses Top Leaders of Repeatedly Impeding Watchdog Role

BART Inspector General Harriet Richardson sits down with Senior Investigative Reporter Bigad Shaban for her first interview since announcing her resignation.
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[@tea98988]

I believe her. BART is so corrupt and we, as one of the largest and most of iconic cities in the world, but our public transportation is a JOKE!

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

Facts! 💯👏

[@chasingamurderer]

You all do something about it.

[@blueconversechucks]

I have always said the BART board is CORRUPT AF. The Guardian and the East bay express used to write about this all the time. We riders are just a cash cow for the board, nothing more.

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

Especially the SF Bay Guardian

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

BART has mismanaged funds since day one, nothing new

[@zoer7338]

Sounds like a defeatist attitude

[@MisfitsFiendClub138]

@@zoer7338 Facts 💯

[@Mortis33-o4b]

@@MisfitsFiendClub138 exactly

[@Nessal83]

This is the same BART where a janitor made almost $250k a year...yet every time I try to use the restroom, none of them are ever open.

[@Mortis33-o4b]

I say that all the time

[@janel7533]

Cus they dont want homeless to go and make a huge mess..every time.

[@carolhern]

I took BART this weekend. I was appalled at the price. When it's less to drive my hybrid in to SF including parking, than to take public transportation, it's an issue. Stations are dirty, old, and I saw even some stations with unfinished repairs. Old fare machines. Having to pass the drug addicts is off putting. I hope the State can replace the inspector and truly find out what is going on. The system internally, as well as tracks/trains need a complete overhaul. Maybe the state should just shut them down and start all over. Bring in some experts from Japan and see what can be done.

[@noname9585]

Should get From CHina . Also have you see any BART police ?

[@carolhern]

@@noname9585 I did at Powell station. Three of them had someone on the floor.

[@georgevavoulis4758]

Toronto's transit system TTC is just as bad it's like a shelter for homeless junkies and all the time subway early closures or closed entirely on weekends and NOTHING gets improved

[@stevens1041]

Costs one dollar and 25 cents to go across Tokyo, one way ticket on metro there. Clean and on time. Great system

[@diabloakland]

Parking in sf is like 40 dollars

[@Cletus_the_Elder]

I think the only workers who should stay are the nice ladies in the booth who call out fare evaders on the PA system. They haven't given up on doing their jobs. Fire the rest. Every year we retire BART workers with ludicrous pensions and benefits for doing barely more than showing up. BART police workers are the worst of them.

[@RaymondHng]

If an independent state authority cannot oversee the auditing and inspection of BART, is there an independent federal authority that this can be elevated to?

[@zoer7338]

Good question

[@Pokephira]

DoT probably.

[@erikh9991]

I bet the corruption is so bad it would take federal authority do make a change. And, I bet it would not be the federal elected officials in that area that would start such investigation too. I believe it is that bad.

[@Paul-kd3ui]

Does she need an armed security detail to keep the Bart mafia thugs off her back?

[@celebrityrog]

BART: "We don't have money. We need to raise fares" Also BART: "Thanks for the million dollars in bonuses" Also BART: "We don't have money to keep the system safe or upgrade"

[@Chilos49]

Bart has a multi-BILLION dollar budget?! Nuh uh, I thought their budget was my monthly rent 😂

[@zaria5785]

About time people step forward to mention what the issues are. Who would want to work for a company that prevents you from actually doing your job? Those people behind the scene who are supportive of a proper investigation/audit get my vote. The rest can leave.

[@blueconversechucks]

What can be done to hold these scumbags accountable? The inspector general, the governor, and Alameda County are all apparently helpless.

[@JustMe-gs9xi]

too late, world is falling fast

[@janel7533]

Nothing..if you keep voting blue..as proven.

[@zoer7338]

​@@janel7533🙄

[@zoer7338]

​@@janel7533I googled it and it's got nothing to do with the people you like to point your bony little fingers at.

[@user-eh2hj8bx6O]

It's a shame because we need good public transit options to help make people's lives better and to fight climate change.

[@giftedgreen2152]

Record cold and snowfall this year. But yeah, let's keep pushing climate change nonsense.

[@mjb0183]

You were doing so well before you mentioned climate change. Climate change is a scam

[@theWZZA]

As a rider for 20 years, I have to say that BART NEEDS oversight. You get very little for your tax dollars. The next time they ask for money, I'm voting NO until they have real oversight.

[@hotttt28]

What a surprise! Public transit should be subsidized and free !

[@francislee7770]

There must be corruption. Find these people and lock em up

[@zrants]

BART appears to have a leadership problem. Like many other government entities, BART wants to expand their scope and areas of influence. They are turning into Jack of all trades and Masters of none. Instead of concentrating on perfecting BART, the board involves itself in capital improvement projects, policing, and homeless abatement.

[@yvettewilson7008]

Why doesn't the law back her up. I'm glad she's shedding light but she should have done this before quitting which should not be an option. We need people who are trying to do the right thing to hang in there for the benefit of the people

[@unknowndarkangeluser]

ironic that the BART/muni buses are the most dangerous places to be in the city. insane.

[@shrimboi8909]

Well.. Go to Thailand, Singapore, and Japan and use their public trains. U will never see the kind of shenanigans that we see everyday at every BART stations and on every train. Homeless and ppl jumping over the railing for free ride. Security officers rarely visible. Still only have one restroom at every station that is filthy and broken most of the time. Escalators that are broken every month. Homeless sleeping in every train. Janitors pretending to clean for a few hours and then disappeared for long lunch breaks. LMAO... Its a racket. I wish I was in on it but I don' have relatives to get me in.

[@purdyboi8078]

WTF Shrimp boi? You start out by explaining just how nice other similar countries are ran...then proceed to ridicule, denounce & vilify our system here by going on about just how shitty it really is & why/what makes it that way, including all the fraud & deception of how employees are taking advantage of us taxpayers' money, laugh your ass off calling it a 'racket'...then show your true colors by immediately turning around & saying that you wished you were in on it?? Wow...simply In-fucking-credible. Smh

[@shrimboi8909]

@@purdyboi8078 WOW... u simply can' see the irony in my last sentence...

[@andretemplet2578]

And I felt bad about jumping turnstile…

[@WestCoastCultured]

Don’t, keep doing it. Fk them.

[@markdefren1222]

BART has needed a TOTAL HOUSE CLEANING for YEARS !!! BART should be totally boycotted until they get their house in order. !! One case in point, bart is unsafe, dangerous to ride on. The BART police are Feckless / Incompetent !! Defund and Restaff bart.!!! 💀💀💀

[@diabloakland]

It’s hard because i am young and need Bart for school commute. I will try to boycott

[@georgevavoulis4758]

I feel so sorry for her it's like they're trying to sabotage her investigation before she's even on the job . Sounds like the same people in Toronto's TTC

[@Rhaspun]

They're protecting their jobs and likely the jobs of friends and relatives who got a job with BART because they held a position of power within BART.

[@MG-sj1em]

Time for a clean sweep, board and management. All the wasted money could have gone to hired Bart Cops to walk trains. Bart says ridership is down, yeah it down no one wants to ride it because it's dangerous! That's the main reason.

[@Hbrown1770]

What ? Bart corruption , who would have thought.🤣🤣🤣

[@chief6462]

The biggest waste is paying all the police officers over 100 grand a year. Instead of patrol on trains and at stations, some officers are just on their phones and/or sleeping inside their cruisers. No wonder riders feel unsafe on BART. These employees need to do their jobs or they should not be on the payroll that is funded by the public.

[@abrahammc2125]

What they should just do is put up a sign says, homeless people will be shot.

[@giftedgreen2152]

Cops have an average life expectancy of 60. They're supposed to pay into the system for 30 years and then die. Forget about them walking around. They only do that in the beginning.

[@kietchung102]

well it is a buddy buddy system. Those people just draib the bank. They dont expect to work hard like us, the tax payers

[@arturiuspendragon6849]

I took a look at the recruitment flyer for BART PD. 100K entry level with a 15K bonus. Regular salary range 118K - 180K, with a boost if you're bilingual. These are some of the highest paid cops in the country.

[@diabloakland]

Wait they pay them that much

[@stevens1041]

Corruption? At BART?? Nooooo. Impossible

[@mattsmith4589]

WTF IS HAPPENING TO THE BAY

[@tumenodnuud4101]

$10 to go to the airport. 10miles. One way. I think thats expensive.

[@diabloakland]

I’m a frequent Bart commuter. I’m pissed off. I might run

[@Pantheroso]

It’s about time the truth!!

[@ladychatterley9879]

This is how you lose good people with integrity. For her not to be able to do her job, says it all. Corruption, Greed! Not surprise; getting paid and not showing up to work. it's everywhere! Add to this some government workers.

[@marisahokefazi4735]

Sounds like they overpay the agents if that budget wasn't enough. Still, it is disgusting that the agency seems to hide their fraud, waste and abuse by stonewalling her.

[@tonygoulart3693]

More Government waste.....

[@FreshGrey-pm4vw]

more corruption and greed = shocker

[@zoer7338]

Wow! I shared this on Facebook. Just WOW.

[@JelMain]

Now add in that sherriff's report on endemic corruption not just in BART, but throughout the area.

[@Photobuffeddy1314]

Why not to be a Whistler blower 😅

[@PerfectoKiss]

Why resign? They win if you resign.

[@justinwahip]

She makes enough money probably jump out before anything bad happens

[@onebabycat6052]

Go work for BART if you want to get pay to do nothing 😂

[@hyphy408]

BART needs to be shutdown. It’s pathetic how disgusting the trains are filled w drugs and homeless. VTA is better in every category

[@RaymondHng]

VTA serves only Santa Clara County.

[@diabloakland]

No it doesn’t need shutting down just overhaul. I rely on Bart and always pay and am quiet and just sit. Some of us are normal people

[@mgarc1960]

Have the talked to the Governor?

[@jccarmazzi1959]

corrupt people lining their pockets

[@chibba]

Typical corporate - ask Corporate to fix the system - first step email IT - wait 2-4 days and sometimes a week and they reply that you are supposed to reach HR - then HR said hit IT then they finally try to solve the ticket but did nothing. And the ticket goes no where after two weeks of waiting - despite being in the same company LOL. Would you buy that company's product? I am not confident myself...

[@busybeez194]

I left Bay Area around 2006. When I came back for visit around 2022, the ticketing system was bad and very expensive and the seats looked like they haven't been changed.

[@diabloakland]

Honestly- i take Bart a lot for school commute- the newer trains seats are way worse. All they have to do is clean and reupholster the old seats. The new seats feel like cement

[@jakaboy26]

Ladies and Gentlemen there is a simple Fix here. In 2025 Bart is going to run out of funding. simply vote against any fund raising measure unless a complete audit of the system is completed. Management on every level should have to re-apply to their current positions to prove their competence , or lack there of in actuality. The hiring process for Bart is completely manipulative and subject to egregious amounts of nepotism. Unless we clean out the people that hold offices they are unworthy of we won't have a functioning transportation system, which is sad because of how vital it is to the bay area. VOTE AGAINST FUNDING BART in 2025

[@strikerone6991]

LOL, no surprise there. Sonoma county is trying the same cash cow deal with this stupid SMART train . Won't be long before it's just as crime ridden and rundown as BART. Everytime government is involved in anything it becomes a joke

[@anlukenguyen]

They stole money from me. I paid twice for monthly Muni/BART. I called clipper service and they were not helpful! Corrupt system.

[@petercook3143]

Ah yes, another reason to add to the old popular KZbin topic "why Americans dont have rapid rail" and "why Americans drive everywhere". Screw subways and trains, let the inner city have it. Its stupid.

[@lunam7249]

LI, typical buearocrat...1792 france

[@Highlyskeptical]

Transparency and oversight, or corruption.

[@thechemtrailkid]

very convenient that the board president is unaware of audit activity in her own organization

[@propblast82nd]

BART is basically unsustainable

[@randygraham926]

Why? Can you imagine the mess on the Bay Area freeways without it? Sounds like it's just time to clean up organizational mismanagement.

[@diabloakland]

No. It’s just time to clean it up.

[@johnreese4377]

You, the voters, have created this mess and chaos. Your votes have consequences. Great job voters 👏

[@mikepatti]

Your city and state are showing signs of your corruption and ineffectiveness. The population is fleeing your state for "a better life" elsewhere.

[@aeromtb2468]

and people want govt to run everything. and they always want more money to sustain this waste.

[@randygraham926]

We should get Norfolk Southern to run BART ...that will work great!

[@troygaspard6732]

This is what happens after decades of no true audits. Only 3 inspectors, no wonder l.

[@baldeagle4710]

someone must be embezzling money at BART. they get a ton of money yet they are cutting service.

[@ghstpper180]

Those 3 people on the board are pocketing the money they get from funding

[@bagteeth]

democrats 🤦

[@dsan5825]

Wow! Corruption, who would have guessed?

[@levmoses742]

A system built without a 3 rail through the tunnels was always a mistake.

[@maxv3208]

America is going into the 🚽!!!

[@zoer7338]

Can we get an update for this report from 2 months ago?

[@giftedgreen2152]

Are we still pretending union workers aren’t communists?

[@randygraham926]

What? Did you read that in Mein Kampf? 😂😂🤣🤣😅

[@Mortis33-o4b]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@maxv3208]

She wasn't on the take so she had to go.

[@jccarmazzi1959]

this is all right out of the democrat playbook

[@k8schmate]

Is it really a shock? This is SF

[@ybemad]

The fact that the "watchdog" opted to quit instead of addressing issues speaks volumes about the ability to regulate. BART leadership, and decision making mechanisms need to be overhauled.

[@seventail]

I'm pretty sure BART has been someone's piggy bank for a long time, a janitor sitting in a closet making $300k....

[@AIR1_STINGER]

yikes

[@robinpriego4453]

Who???

[@vt3140]

Sounds corruption shame and maybe other agencies also not only BART

[@TyTyMcGinty]

Zero accountability. Sounds like California to me.

[@crowpvpgod4537]

And that’s why I don’t pay.

[@mgarc1960]

Follow the money.

[@luckyguy71]

WOW! This is HUGE!

[@dottier3145]

Well, she Chinese, enough said

[@michaeln.2383]

I wouldn't want to cooperate with a snitch. Anxiety would set in for me when an auditor used to show up at my workplace.

[@mrsleep0000]

Maybe you should just do your job and stop screwing around then?

[@Mortis33-o4b]

@@mrsleep0000 exactly, wait maybe he can sit in the closet with the Bart janitor

[@raulingaverage]

I’m so happy! The IG was inadequate at her job. It was mainly because a bad pre-Covid hire. Looking forward to her replacement with this exist BART staff! Also to IGs criticism to BART president, she recently became it

[@elomax6046]

She is telling the truth bart is full of crap and they always need more money screw them

[@tidus1ph]

If she's inadequate even with her years of experience, why restrict her access on datas she needed so she can do her job? Doesn't make any sense.

[@lcba97]

Dirty train, dirty station, train delay, train canceled, crimes crimes crimes, no one at booth, no one stopping gate jumpers, employees not showing up to work... POOR MANAGEMENT who should be investigated and fired

[@eleventy-seven]

San Francisco last inspected the cable of the Golden Gate Bridge in the thirties 30s before it was covered by its "waterproof sheath" when it hits the bay because they're to cheap to inspect they will ask for 50 billion to replace it. Watch and see.

[@chasingamurderer]

Well, finally, a story that exposes truth. Now will you run a story of lues next about trump?