How exactly King County Metro Transit spends taxpayers’ hard earned dollars became a topic of considerable debate last year when the agency asked voters to approve tax hikes via Prop 1 last year. Voters rejected the ballot measure, and for good reason. Soon after, voters discovered that—contrary to the insistence of county officials—Metro was not strapped for cash and would not need to do away with the bus routes they threatened to cut.
Well, thanks to a new job listing, now we know one of the many ways Metro makes use of taxpayer dollars. According to the Seattle Times, Metro is “looking to hire a “comfort station coordinator,” which comes with an annual salary as high as $97,000, depending on experience.” The “comfort station coordinator” would be responsible for finding “bathrooms for the 2,600 drivers who keep the community moving.”
The job listing is Metro’s response to an audit conducted by the state Department of Labor and Industries that found “drivers were not provided unrestricted access to restrooms and some wore diapers.”
Yes, drivers need to be able to go the bathroom. No, Metro does not need to pay someone close to $100,000 per year for what is essentially a logistics project that could be taken on by existing staff.
Ladies and gentlemen, your tax dollars at work. Remember that next time Metro is asking for a tax increase.
That’s $100,000 that could be used to put service on the road and give transit operators time to “hit the head” (aka visit the restroom).
Come on Tensor, where you at on this? I can’t wait!
As one with a medical condition requiring restroom access, all the drivers need to do is download the app that can show you where public restrooms are in any city in the world. Furthermore, anyone with a IBD can get a medical RCW 70.54.400 requires retail establishments that have restrooms to make them available to those with medical conditions. card. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.54.400
Very good information! I appreciate your effort to inform.
Here’s an idea: Take the 100k and buy all the Metro drivers diapers. My guess is they’ll all figure out quickly where the nearest bathrooms are for their potty breaks.