It was recently brought to my attention that Google's corporate logo has appeared on the front page of ATRA's website indicating that Google is a sponsor of ATRA:
Jeral Poskey's LinkedIn profile says he currently works for Google:
Current: Manager, Automated Operations at Google
Past: Advisor at Message Scape
VP of Sales and Marketing at Taxi 2000
Network administrator at Danka
Why doesn't Jeral Poskey mention that he is the Chairman of the Advanced Transit Association (ATRA). on his LinkedIn profile?
(More about Jeral Poskey and other PRT promoters' LinkedIn profiles in the previous post).
To give you an idea just how bogus ATRA is, ATRA's treasurer Larry Fabian pesters me with emails... here's the most recent one:
Lawrence Fabian
[lfabian21@********]
SUBJECT: Jake Roberts
Dec 1 (1 day ago)
He's a handsome, well-dressed dude -- a hell of lot better looking than you and me.
He's head up the 30th Ithaca Festival in late May. Come on out -- you can exhibit your venom towards innovation.
I wonder how Google's stockholders would react if they knew that Google supported a bogus organization such as ATRA?
To underscore just how bogus ATRA is, Rep. Mark Olson introduced an amendment in 2006 and 2007 that required ATRA to be involved in the Central Corridor LRT Project.
From the Minnesota House Journal for the 12th of April, 2006:
Olson moved to amend H. F. No. 2959, the second engrossment, as amended, as follows:
Page 32, delete lines 15 to 17 and insert:
"(a) For design, environmental studies, and preliminary engineering in the Central Corridor Transitway, if the study and analysis requirements of paragraphs (b) and (c) are met. Journal of the House - 89th Day - Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - Top of Page 6648
(b) The Metropolitan Council must approve a study and analysis of transit options, including personal rapid transit (PRT), express bus transit, and light rail transit. A published report of a recent study done of any Central Corridor Transitway transit mode may satisfy this study and analysis requirement for the listed transit option. The study and analysis must:
(1) determine the effectiveness and viability of each transit option;
(2) specifically address whether the Central Corridor Transitway would be a cost-effective and viable site for the PRT option; and
(3) contain an unbiased analysis that is not performed by any party or organization that has a conflict of interest.
(c) The Metropolitan Council must give serious unbiased and objective consideration to implementing PRT, and must ensure that consultants or other persons with expertise in PRT systems, and associated national or international organizations such as the Advanced Transit Association, are consulted and utilized at each phase of the study and analysis. "
The Olson amendment was voted down in 2006 with 26 yeas and 107 nays
Only two DFLers voted for Olson's silly amendment.
Here is Mark Olson introducing (and withdrawing) a similar amendment in 2007:
UPDATE: Larry Fabian has sent me another email informing me that Jeral Poskey is no longer the Chairman of ATRA. The ATRA site still says Poskey is the Chairman.
