Comments for The Schilling Show Blog http://www.schillingshow.com Where the News is Made!™ (online) Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:55:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 Comment on Guest editorial: The Magnificent History of the United States by Jack http://www.schillingshow.com/2012/01/03/guest-editorial-the-magnificent-history-of-the-united-states/comment-page-1/#comment-51547 Jack Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:55:44 +0000 http://www.schillingshow.com/?p=6144#comment-51547 @ The Blue_Spade I can assure you I am not Ken, and I have never met Ken. @ The Blue_Spade

I can assure you I am not Ken, and I have never met Ken.

]]> Comment on Guest editorial: Skinning the CAT (How the City of Charlottesville abuses some in its employ) by R.K. http://www.schillingshow.com/2012/01/31/guest-editorial-skinning-the-cat-how-the-city-of-charlottesville-abuses-some-in-its-employ/comment-page-1/#comment-50688 R.K. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:07:30 +0000 http://www.schillingshow.com/?p=6328#comment-50688 I've got a family member who was a bus driver in NYC. They were written up for FAILING to take their required 15/15 & 30 for lunch. So, since the C-ville City Council is so apt to ape the larger metro areas it wishes it were, copy this practice. So far, the inquiries/messages left for Council and Public Works have not been acknowledged nor responded to. What a surprise! I’ve got a family member who was a bus driver in NYC. They were written up for FAILING to take their required 15/15 & 30 for lunch. So, since the C-ville City Council is so apt to ape the larger metro areas it wishes it were, copy this practice. So far, the inquiries/messages left for Council and Public Works have not been acknowledged nor responded to. What a surprise!

]]> Comment on Guest editorial: Skinning the CAT (How the City of Charlottesville abuses some in its employ) by quinn http://www.schillingshow.com/2012/01/31/guest-editorial-skinning-the-cat-how-the-city-of-charlottesville-abuses-some-in-its-employ/comment-page-1/#comment-50378 quinn Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:41:41 +0000 http://www.schillingshow.com/?p=6328#comment-50378 Since this story has hit the airway, the city management has gone into their protection routine. All employees are remind if caught running you mouth, you can and will get two week on street, no money and no job. This is now the city, country and state works. I know I used to work for the state. Next to impossible for a govenment employee to win a court case or collect workman comp. Why because we have had general assembly craft laws to protect the govenment and to hell with employees..... If and when a transit driver is involved in serois enough accident, it will be transit driver who will take the fall. Why because the person failed to call into dispatch and tell them that they needed assistant. Wake up Charlottesville and it time to vote out the ruling class and put someone in there that give a dam about us (citizen and employees) before it is too late. Oh! Don't forget ---- property taxes are going up $0.01per $100.00 assest value the last meeting the city counsel and business office had in Janurary. so don't bitch if voted for them................ Since this story has hit the airway, the city management has gone into their protection routine. All employees are remind if caught running you mouth, you can and will get two week on street, no money and no job. This is now the city, country and state works. I know I used to work for the state. Next to impossible for a govenment employee to win a court case or collect workman comp. Why because we have had general assembly craft laws to protect the govenment and to hell with employees…..
If and when a transit driver is involved in serois enough accident, it will be transit driver who will take the fall.
Why because the person failed to call into dispatch and tell them that they needed assistant.
Wake up Charlottesville and it time to vote out the ruling class and put someone in there that give a dam about us (citizen and employees) before it is too late. Oh! Don’t forget —- property taxes are going up $0.01per $100.00 assest value the last meeting the city counsel and business office had in Janurary. so don’t bitch if voted for them…………….

]]> Comment on Guest editorial: Skinning the CAT (How the City of Charlottesville abuses some in its employ) by Joe S. http://www.schillingshow.com/2012/01/31/guest-editorial-skinning-the-cat-how-the-city-of-charlottesville-abuses-some-in-its-employ/comment-page-1/#comment-50162 Joe S. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:21:15 +0000 http://www.schillingshow.com/?p=6328#comment-50162 As a former regular rider, I can tell you that this is pretty much accurate. Drivers are not, by policy, allowed to assist with either strollers or bicycles. They are of course expected to strap in wheel chaired individuals. This is why Cville Eye does not see stroller and bicycle assist. But the bigger issue. For all of the liberal warm fuzzy do-gooding rhetoric that this council has ever espoused, and attempted, appalling is the word that comes to mind in light of this information. It seems that the powers that be have out and out lied to the drivers, as well as any watchdog agencies in the state, and federal government. This is a shame and a sham, and obviously a well guarded little secret, that was only brought to light by the observations of a new rider. Were I an attorney of any sagacity, I would be looking to the drivers for a class action in order to receive the appropriate compensation for all of the years of abusive actions by the city council and the public works department. When, not if, the time comes where an accident occurs, due to driver impairment from these abuses, well, the city will be opening its pockets deep and wide, to compensate both the driver forced to work in such conditions, as well as any victims said forced conditions created. Keep on playing the odds, they stack against you every day. As a former regular rider, I can tell you that this is pretty much accurate. Drivers are not, by policy, allowed to assist with either strollers or bicycles. They are of course expected to strap in wheel chaired individuals. This is why Cville Eye does not see stroller and bicycle assist. But the bigger issue. For all of the liberal warm fuzzy do-gooding rhetoric that this council has ever espoused, and attempted, appalling is the word that comes to mind in light of this information. It seems that the powers that be have out and out lied to the drivers, as well as any watchdog agencies in the state, and federal government. This is a shame and a sham, and obviously a well guarded little secret, that was only brought to light by the observations of a new rider. Were I an attorney of any sagacity, I would be looking to the drivers for a class action in order to receive the appropriate compensation for all of the years of abusive actions by the city council and the public works department. When, not if, the time comes where an accident occurs, due to driver impairment from these abuses, well, the city will be opening its pockets deep and wide, to compensate both the driver forced to work in such conditions, as well as any victims said forced conditions created. Keep on playing the odds, they stack against you every day.

]]> Comment on Guest editorial: Skinning the CAT (How the City of Charlottesville abuses some in its employ) by C. E. http://www.schillingshow.com/2012/01/31/guest-editorial-skinning-the-cat-how-the-city-of-charlottesville-abuses-some-in-its-employ/comment-page-1/#comment-50108 C. E. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:13:48 +0000 http://www.schillingshow.com/?p=6328#comment-50108 I was on trolley 833 last night. The fumes were so bad in the drivers compartment, he had to stop at the downtown station, open every window and take a break, putting all of his passengers on trolley 848 behind him, and wait, to air out the trolley. He was complaining of severe headaches, etc. I am forced to use the CAT services on a regular basis, and Dee is spot on with her observations. Have never seen the likes of what Cville Eye claims, and I'm a regular on the route 7. So, I guess Cville had a once in a blue moon experience. Based on what I've seen from the drivers, they are very professional, given what little they have to work with in the way of job treatment by CAT. Given that, I've not a doubt in the world that this story is true. And also given that, can you blame the drivers for their negative attitudes? Would you or I be any more prone to patience, etc, if the basic ability to eat and drink when needed, is denied us? I do not usually support unions, but in this instance, I firmly believe that the Teamster's would love to hear of this. Instead of establishing a committee to establish a dialogue on racial relations in the city, how about a committee established to discuss HUMAN relations instead. City Council, and Public Works are to be ashamed for this. So to be clear. We can give Maurice Jones extra time and money to get his residence and educational requirements in order. But WE CAN NOT LET DRIVERS CRAP, EAT OR DRINK!!!!Impressive. I was on trolley 833 last night. The fumes were so bad in the drivers compartment, he had to stop at the downtown station, open every window and take a break, putting all of his passengers on trolley 848 behind him, and wait, to air out the trolley. He was complaining of severe headaches, etc.

I am forced to use the CAT services on a regular basis, and Dee is spot on with her observations. Have never seen the likes of what Cville Eye claims, and I’m a regular on the route 7. So, I guess Cville had a once in a blue moon experience.

Based on what I’ve seen from the drivers, they are very professional, given what little they have to work with in the way of job treatment by CAT. Given that, I’ve not a doubt in the world that this story is true. And also given that, can you blame the drivers for their negative attitudes? Would you or I be any more prone to patience, etc, if the basic ability to eat and drink when needed, is denied us? I do not usually support unions, but in this instance, I firmly believe that the Teamster’s would love to hear of this.

Instead of establishing a committee to establish a dialogue on racial relations in the city, how about a committee established to discuss HUMAN relations instead. City Council, and Public Works are to be ashamed for this.

So to be clear. We can give Maurice Jones extra time and money to get his residence and educational requirements in order. But WE CAN NOT LET DRIVERS CRAP, EAT OR DRINK!!!!Impressive.

]]> Comment on No-go: Huja nixes Human Rights Commission unless government included under purview by Cville Eye http://www.schillingshow.com/2012/01/25/no-go-huja-nixes-human-rights-commission-unless-government-included-under-purview/comment-page-1/#comment-50000 Cville Eye Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:57:42 +0000 http://www.schillingshow.com/?p=6304#comment-50000 quinn, Of course they can move their rejected complaints to the local level where they may have sympathetic friends. Walt Heinecki, was he one of the ones that helped to drive the first black school superintendent (Dr. Griffin) out of here by complaining she had change an achievement assessment tool? Yes, according to an article int eh <i>Progress</i> the federal government has been quite effective in rectifying legitimate local complaints, but you know that Charlottesville feels it has to have anything some other locality has. Thus Council does not wish to let the idea go. After all, the idea came out of Council's current pet project called the Dialogue on Race. If Council grants this $300k appropriation, that group will be encouraged to come back with even more requests for expenditures. Of course, as the scope of this commission widens in the future, its budget will continue to grow. After all, a political commission like this will never have a sunset clause like the old Social Development Commission did. quinn, Of course they can move their rejected complaints to the local level where they may have sympathetic friends.
Walt Heinecki, was he one of the ones that helped to drive the first black school superintendent (Dr. Griffin) out of here by complaining she had change an achievement assessment tool? Yes, according to an article int eh Progress the federal government has been quite effective in rectifying legitimate local complaints, but you know that Charlottesville feels it has to have anything some other locality has. Thus Council does not wish to let the idea go. After all, the idea came out of Council’s current pet project called the Dialogue on Race. If Council grants this $300k appropriation, that group will be encouraged to come back with even more requests for expenditures. Of course, as the scope of this commission widens in the future, its budget will continue to grow. After all, a political commission like this will never have a sunset clause like the old Social Development Commission did.

]]> Comment on Guest editorial: Skinning the CAT (How the City of Charlottesville abuses some in its employ) by Cville Eye http://www.schillingshow.com/2012/01/31/guest-editorial-skinning-the-cat-how-the-city-of-charlottesville-abuses-some-in-its-employ/comment-page-1/#comment-49998 Cville Eye Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:42:24 +0000 http://www.schillingshow.com/?p=6328#comment-49998 I ride four different routes on a fairly regular basis and I have observed drivers taking bathroom breaks, cigarette breaks, and cell phone breaks. I have never seen one help anyone with a stroller. Once a group of us were waiting for Route 7 to come up W. Main St. We had seen two Route 7's go downtown. After two cycles had past, one passenger in our group got angry enough to call the downtown transit center asking when was another Route 7 coming. She was told that the driver was sitting downtown waiting to get back on schedule. We waited 40 minutes for a bus that has a 15-minute headway. Perhaps someone was eating then. Somebody is doing something while those buses are sitting there idling at the transit center. Many of the drivers talk a lot (inappropriately) and I have yet to hear one say he was hungry. He did announce to us on the bus that he couldn't wait to get work so that he could have a couple of beers as he proceeded to get me to the transfer stop too late to catch the next bus. The trip was amazing. We started out four minutes late and, with his 15 - 20 mph driving, we ended up 7 minutes late. I had to wait another half hour for the next bus. So many of the drivers do not realize there is a schedule. Has anyone checked with Judith Mueller or Bill Watterson about the writer's allegations? I am too busy sitting a bus stops wondering when the bus is coming to take the time to call them. I ride four different routes on a fairly regular basis and I have observed drivers taking bathroom breaks, cigarette breaks, and cell phone breaks. I have never seen one help anyone with a stroller. Once a group of us were waiting for Route 7 to come up W. Main St. We had seen two Route 7′s go downtown. After two cycles had past, one passenger in our group got angry enough to call the downtown transit center asking when was another Route 7 coming. She was told that the driver was sitting downtown waiting to get back on schedule. We waited 40 minutes for a bus that has a 15-minute headway. Perhaps someone was eating then. Somebody is doing something while those buses are sitting there idling at the transit center. Many of the drivers talk a lot (inappropriately) and I have yet to hear one say he was hungry. He did announce to us on the bus that he couldn’t wait to get work so that he could have a couple of beers as he proceeded to get me to the transfer stop too late to catch the next bus. The trip was amazing. We started out four minutes late and, with his 15 – 20 mph driving, we ended up 7 minutes late. I had to wait another half hour for the next bus. So many of the drivers do not realize there is a schedule.
Has anyone checked with Judith Mueller or Bill Watterson about the writer’s allegations? I am too busy sitting a bus stops wondering when the bus is coming to take the time to call them.

]]> Comment on Guest editorial: Skinning the CAT (How the City of Charlottesville abuses some in its employ) by Dee http://www.schillingshow.com/2012/01/31/guest-editorial-skinning-the-cat-how-the-city-of-charlottesville-abuses-some-in-its-employ/comment-page-1/#comment-49842 Dee Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:47:13 +0000 http://www.schillingshow.com/?p=6328#comment-49842 You don't know the half of it! Some of the schedules are so tight, that if anything (loading & unloading a wheelchair, passenger with a lot of groceries, passengers with strollers that have to be folded and stowed) puts the driver behind schedule, they spend the rest of the shift trying HARD to catch up! Forget bathroom breaks if you are not running hot (ahead of schedule). Commercial drivers have the worst record of urinary infections of any profession. Gee, I wonder why? Another thing is this: try sitting behind the wheel for 10 hours, no breaks, there is an exhaust leak in the driver's area that management and maintenance KNOW about, no heat shielding on the engine compartment, and the driver is sitting practically on TOP of the engine. The heat can run up to 110 degrees (highest I measured it with a digital thermometer) where the driver is sitting. One driver was taken (just in ONE summer!) from the trolley 3 times by rescue for heat exhaustion. Yet, the workmans comp claims were denied. Driver was out paid time, medical bills, etc! Several passengers called 911 for medical one time, the driver was so sick from the heat! Actually HEARD OVER THE RADIO one supervisor telling the driver that the heat was "part of the job. Suck it up!" Also, Virginia does NOT participate in OSHA. Apparently, Virginia has their OWN version, which comes no-where close to the standards of OSHA. So, you cannot file a complaint for having to work long hours in excessive heat, with no breaks! As Mr. Richardson said, maybe something will be done when a driver passes out behind the wheel. But not before! Count on it. You don’t know the half of it! Some of the schedules are so tight, that if anything (loading & unloading a wheelchair, passenger with a lot of groceries, passengers with strollers that have to be folded and stowed) puts the driver behind schedule, they spend the rest of the shift trying HARD to catch up! Forget bathroom breaks if you are not running hot (ahead of schedule). Commercial drivers have the worst record of urinary infections of any profession. Gee, I wonder why?

Another thing is this: try sitting behind the wheel for 10 hours, no breaks, there is an exhaust leak in the driver’s area that management and maintenance KNOW about, no heat shielding on the engine compartment, and the driver is sitting practically on TOP of the engine. The heat can run up to 110 degrees (highest I measured it with a digital thermometer) where the driver is sitting.

One driver was taken (just in ONE summer!) from the trolley 3 times by rescue for heat exhaustion. Yet, the workmans comp claims were denied. Driver was out paid time, medical bills, etc! Several passengers called 911 for medical one time, the driver was so sick from the heat! Actually HEARD OVER THE RADIO one supervisor telling the driver that the heat was “part of the job. Suck it up!” Also, Virginia does NOT participate in OSHA. Apparently, Virginia has their OWN version, which comes no-where close to the standards of OSHA. So, you cannot file a complaint for having to work long hours in excessive heat, with no breaks! As Mr. Richardson said, maybe something will be done when a driver passes out behind the wheel. But not before! Count on it.

]]> Comment on Guest editorial: Skinning the CAT (How the City of Charlottesville abuses some in its employ) by William Richadson http://www.schillingshow.com/2012/01/31/guest-editorial-skinning-the-cat-how-the-city-of-charlottesville-abuses-some-in-its-employ/comment-page-1/#comment-49785 William Richadson Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:40:34 +0000 http://www.schillingshow.com/?p=6328#comment-49785 This is true, and I've see it for some time. The drivers schedules are such that they barely have time to exit the bus to use the restrooms. They can eat, if you want to call it that, only if they step off the bus at a layover spot, where they are meeting other buses, or if they are slightly early. This is why you see the drivers literally running into the mall, (restroom), and running back with a soda and a candy bar in hand. Cliff makes a great point. I am willing to bet that the administrators who crafted these rules, leisurely eat and drink, at will, in their offices, without a second thought. If the drivers must operate under such inhuman, and legally questionable conditions, then let their leaders lead by example. I guess this will be addressed, when a driver passes out behind the wheel from a blood sugar crash, or dehydration. Rob, the next time our new mayor is on your show, ask him about this. See if you'll get any form of an answer that makes sense. This is true, and I’ve see it for some time. The drivers schedules are such that they barely have time to exit the bus to use the restrooms. They can eat, if you want to call it that, only if they step off the bus at a layover spot, where they are meeting other buses, or if they are slightly early. This is why you see the drivers literally running into the mall, (restroom), and running back with a soda and a candy bar in hand. Cliff makes a great point. I am willing to bet that the administrators who crafted these rules, leisurely eat and drink, at will, in their offices, without a second thought. If the drivers must operate under such inhuman, and legally questionable conditions, then let their leaders lead by example.
I guess this will be addressed, when a driver passes out behind the wheel from a blood sugar crash, or dehydration. Rob, the next time our new mayor is on your show, ask him about this. See if you’ll get any form of an answer that makes sense.

]]> Comment on Guest editorial: Skinning the CAT (How the City of Charlottesville abuses some in its employ) by quinn http://www.schillingshow.com/2012/01/31/guest-editorial-skinning-the-cat-how-the-city-of-charlottesville-abuses-some-in-its-employ/comment-page-1/#comment-49291 quinn Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:28:05 +0000 http://www.schillingshow.com/?p=6328#comment-49291 Even the inmate workers are allow bathroom and meal breaks.......... So does this mean that transit workers are less human than someone in prison. I guess we need to stop drinking the city water. Even the inmate workers are allow bathroom and meal breaks………. So does this mean that transit workers are less human than someone in prison.
I guess we need to stop drinking the city water.

]]> Comment on Breaking news: Corey Stewart running for Virginia Lt. Governor by Rob Schilling http://www.schillingshow.com/2012/01/31/breaking-news-corey-stewart-running-for-virginia-lt-governor/comment-page-1/#comment-49185 Rob Schilling Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:09:48 +0000 http://www.schillingshow.com/?p=6335#comment-49185 Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chair, Corey Stewart, announced that he will seek the office of Virginia Lt. Governor in 2013: http://wp.me/p1x2fK-1Eb. Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chair, Corey Stewart, announced that he will seek the office of Virginia Lt. Governor in 2013: http://wp.me/p1x2fK-1Eb.

]]> Comment on Guest editorial: Skinning the CAT (How the City of Charlottesville abuses some in its employ) by Rob Schilling http://www.schillingshow.com/2012/01/31/guest-editorial-skinning-the-cat-how-the-city-of-charlottesville-abuses-some-in-its-employ/comment-page-1/#comment-49133 Rob Schilling Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:47:29 +0000 http://www.schillingshow.com/?p=6328#comment-49133 Is Charlottesville City treating its bus drivers fairly? Read our latest guest editorial and you decide: http://wp.me/p1x2fK-1E4. Is Charlottesville City treating its bus drivers fairly? Read our latest guest editorial and you decide: http://wp.me/p1x2fK-1E4.

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