Metro should save the money from the candy and bookmarks and donate it towards food for homeless or needy. This "party" is despicable.

News Release Release date: December 27, 2000

Metro to celebrate 100 million passenger trips in 2000 More than 100 Metro employees will be out during the morning commute on Jan. 4 to personally thank riders for their part in setting a new record: more than 100 million passenger trips taken aboard King County Metro Transit during a single year. The Metro street teams expect to personally contact an estimated 20,000 commuters during a three-hour period, passing out special commemorative bookmarks and chocolates at 24 of the busiest Metro locations. Banners, placards and bus ads will carry the message: "Thank you for 100 Million Trips in 2000."

The center of the live celebration will be at the University Street Station in the downtown bus tunnel, through which about 4000 commuters pass each morning. Performing at that station will be "The CBD Band," a jazz band composed of off-duty Metro bus operators; "CBD" is Metro shorthand for "central business district." King County Executive Ron Sims will join the celebration at around 8:30 a.m.

-- Doug (dgoar14@hotmail.com), January 03, 2001

Answers

This is Metro's warm and fuzzy charade to stroke the egos of their riders and to appeal for sympathy from the rest of the public when they ask for more tax increases only to further boost salaries and pension packages for Metro management and staff immediately followed with announcements of fare increases and cuts in service. Standard operating procedure to sustain any politically corrupt government agency. Incidently, amidst all the celebrating, how did Metro arrive at 100 million passenger trips for the 2000 calendar year?

-- James Andrews (jimfive@hotmail.com), January 05, 2001.

Isn't METRO a public agency, and their money is public funds? And don't we have a law against a gift of public funds? How much did this give away cost?

-- dbvz (dbvz@hotmail.com), January 07, 2001.

This 'party' is Metro's way of thanking people for using their services, and a demonstration that their services work extremely well. 100 million passengers in one year is something to be proud of, and this demonstrates that Metro is a public service that is a true benefit for the citizens of King County. It's not a party, it's a thank-you. It's a way to encourage more people to consider using Metro's services.

-- Nick Cullen (nick_cullen@hotmail.com), January 10, 2001.

"It's a way to encourage more people to consider using Metro's services."

By giving out goodies to people who already ride? If that is the goal, then they should stand in the middle of I-5 during rush hour to give bribes.

-- Marsha (acorn_nut@msn.com), January 10, 2001.

Call it whatever you would like, even a “thank you”, but don’t pander for an increase of my taxes to fund Metro services on the threat of decreasing them, then take my money and spend it on chocolate candy and other resources.

-- Doug (dgoar14@hotmail.com), January 10, 2001.