SFMTA Meeting
It was raining this morning and I could only think about the meeting I would be covering at City Hall. The rain had stopped by the time I was getting ready to leave for the meeting. I put on a sweatshirt and went to the 71-Noriega bus stop. There were only three other people waiting for the bus, besides myself.
Up until today I hadn't realized how big City Hall was, including the fact that there are lot of court rooms. Usually when people enter they notice the marble stairs and the rotunda. I had to report on a meeting today. I arrived at City Hall early. Going through the metal detector took three times because I had to empty my pockets of all metallic items, including my digital camera. Once passed the metal detectors I entered an elevator that was going to the fourth floor, which is where my meeting took place.
The elevators have a wooden interior, that date back to the 60s or 70s. Just by looking at the décor makes you think that you are in a wealthy man's extravagant mansion. The roof of the elevators is triangular. On the center of the wooden floor is a circle with the initials S.F. Both letters are on top of each other.
I stepped out of the elevator as soon as the elevator doors opened. I looked around, for room number 400. I asked a man where the room was.
"Excuse me, where's room number 400?"
The man pointed the way.
"It's near the end of the hall," he said.
I proceeded down the hall, looking at each room number. Finally I was at the entrance of room number 400. Three guys were talking outside room . One of them was wearing a suit. I peered through the window to see how many people would be attending the meeting. The seating area was practically empty. I put my hand on the doorknob, turned it clockwise and entered.
Once inside, I got down to business. I opened my notebook to the page where I had written down my questions. I asked someone that was seated who was in charge. He pointed to a blonde woman in a black business suit. Her name was Roberta Boomer.
I introduced myself to Boomer and asked two questions.
"Who writes the agenda?"
"The agenda is a compilation of items by staff. It has been approved by the Board of Directors," Boomer said.
"Who is in charge of the meeting," I asked.
"Chairman of the MTA Tom Nolan," she said, motioning to the old man with a gray mustache at the center of the board.
Boomer told me that the meeting would go on for an hour and then they would discuss the issues privately.
What piqued my interest during the meeting was when taxi drivers spoke at the podium about being treated unfairly either by violating the taxi driver's handbook or being harassed by inspectors at MUNI stations when they have nothing better to do.
Throughout the entire meeting I had ignored my empty stomache. I had spent an hour and a half at City Hall attending the SFMTA meeting, completely forgetting that I hadn't had lunch. I had a late lunch at Burger King.
Up until today I hadn't realized how big City Hall was, including the fact that there are lot of court rooms. Usually when people enter they notice the marble stairs and the rotunda. I had to report on a meeting today. I arrived at City Hall early. Going through the metal detector took three times because I had to empty my pockets of all metallic items, including my digital camera. Once passed the metal detectors I entered an elevator that was going to the fourth floor, which is where my meeting took place.
The elevators have a wooden interior, that date back to the 60s or 70s. Just by looking at the décor makes you think that you are in a wealthy man's extravagant mansion. The roof of the elevators is triangular. On the center of the wooden floor is a circle with the initials S.F. Both letters are on top of each other.
I stepped out of the elevator as soon as the elevator doors opened. I looked around, for room number 400. I asked a man where the room was.
"Excuse me, where's room number 400?"
The man pointed the way.
"It's near the end of the hall," he said.
I proceeded down the hall, looking at each room number. Finally I was at the entrance of room number 400. Three guys were talking outside room . One of them was wearing a suit. I peered through the window to see how many people would be attending the meeting. The seating area was practically empty. I put my hand on the doorknob, turned it clockwise and entered.
Once inside, I got down to business. I opened my notebook to the page where I had written down my questions. I asked someone that was seated who was in charge. He pointed to a blonde woman in a black business suit. Her name was Roberta Boomer.
I introduced myself to Boomer and asked two questions.
"Who writes the agenda?"
"The agenda is a compilation of items by staff. It has been approved by the Board of Directors," Boomer said.
"Who is in charge of the meeting," I asked.
"Chairman of the MTA Tom Nolan," she said, motioning to the old man with a gray mustache at the center of the board.
Boomer told me that the meeting would go on for an hour and then they would discuss the issues privately.
What piqued my interest during the meeting was when taxi drivers spoke at the podium about being treated unfairly either by violating the taxi driver's handbook or being harassed by inspectors at MUNI stations when they have nothing better to do.
Throughout the entire meeting I had ignored my empty stomache. I had spent an hour and a half at City Hall attending the SFMTA meeting, completely forgetting that I hadn't had lunch. I had a late lunch at Burger King.
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