Arrested

If those four MTA employees who were arrested for fraudulent licenses are members of TWU Local 100 then we believe they should get a second chance.

Lets assume that those four individuals have been on good behavior for the last 10 years or rehabilitated their behavior in a manner to become good members of society (which is the guiding principle of justice and corrections). There are many examples of people who rehabilitated thus becoming productive members of society, infact they have ascended the throne, i.e. U.S. Senator Edward M. ‘Ted’ Kennedy. Mary Jo Kopechne who died in a car accident on Chappaquidick Island, Massachusetts on July 18, 1969, was a passenger in a car being driven by U.S. Senator Edward M. ‘Ted’ Kennedy. The 43rd United States President George W. Bush in December 1966 (age 20) was arrested for disorderly conduct after he and some friends had "a few beers" and stole a Christmas wreath from a hotel. The charges were later dropped. On September 4, 1976 (age 30), Bush was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol near his family's summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine. He admitted his guilt, was fined $150, and had his driving license in the state suspended for two years.

Clearly in those above examples they received more than second chances thus we here in why did you join the union believe those four are entitled to a second chance. They should not be dismissed but rather should be demoted to titles that does not interact with the public or their safety.

We can give many examples or cite numerous high profile individuals but we are not interested in that - what we are interested in is protecting our members of TWU Local 100. Many of you are aware of how youthful indiscretions are many that come to be regretted when they mature - the point is if those four have been rehabilitated for a period of time they should get a second chance.

Lets review the fraudulent licenses issue is it considered a crime of high seriousness? We wonder what the standard for measurement is and to what degree the crime affects others or society - we find it pales to those above examples. 

Now coming back do those four deserve the penalty to be dismissed? We here in why did you join the union believe that the punishment should fit the crime definitely. Those four deserve a second chance we believe our TWU Local 100 president John Samuelsen should work tirelessly to preserve those members.

Second chance

Our suspicions are that Samuelsen may not use the road of the well beaten track. Well what is the basis for Samuelsen new pick for secretary treasurer, and what are the criteria? However before looking forward lets look backward and assess Samuelsen’s decision in picking the future felon Israel Rivera Jr who came out of a muddy sole. We wonder if Samuelsen’s next pick would be better but maybe the membership is expecting too much of him.

Lets look at Israel Rivera Jr whose talents will land him in Rikers Island and whose writing is almost illiterate. It is Samuelsen who has picked an illiterate for the second highest position in the Local 100. Now begs the question are we restricted to illiterates who turn felons and are peddled to us as geniuses? It is obvious that Israel Rivera Jr was the worst choice and it was Samuelsen who appeared to make blunder after blunder by choosing him. Imagine if Samuelsen was a driver and had multiple accidents then the insurance company would drop their coverage because the insurance company is in the business of making money not losing it.

So the membership comes out on the losing end of the stick but with his second chance we hope Samuelsen will bring the best person whose conduct towards the membership they can benefit. We will challenge him and we are not going to follow him blindly maybe that will bring the best out of Samuelsen. However we have found out a squalid piece of gossip that the next secretary treasurer might be one of the two following disastrous choices either Charles Jenkins or Joe Bermudez. We say they should not even make the threshold of consideration. It is rumored now that it is their turn to ascend the ladder and we are not sure of how they will bring about positive change to Local 100. It is obvious that Samuelsen, if he made these two choices or if they are under consideration at best because they are yes man who follow whatever he says. We have already seen the choice of the solidarity fund overseer team and nothing surprises us anymore when it comes to Samuelsen’s blindness borders of madness.

It confirms our suspicions that we are heading for no great changes in the Local 100. We advise that Samuelsen put the membership’s benefit ahead of his yes men. He will be an effective leader if he keeps the membership well being at all times. Samuelsen should sense the enormity of the next choice and we are not expecting a miracle but a change towards a better union. Therefore we hope that Samuelsen will not move backward but forward for the membership well being. We have faith in him and hope he considers only the best possible people that can improve Local 100.