April 20, 2013 (San Diego’s East County ) – Senator Joel Anderson has called for a change in leadership at Caltrans, citing an independent state auditor’s report that suggests a “pattern of abuse, theft and mismanagement” under the leadership of Acting Director Malcolm Dougherty.
The study, the latest in a string of critical reports on Caltrans, found that employees falsified safety reports on bridges, jeopardizing lives, as well as stealing property. Salaries on Dougherty’s watch also rose to over $100,000 for the department’s 20,000 employees while road conditions deteriorated, Anderson charged, contending that the agency has become a “laughingstock.”
He calls for a top-to-bottom evaluation of the agency. Anderson has previously introduced legislation that would have outsourced Caltrans work to private companies.
Dougherty has been nominated by the Governor for reconfirmation to continue heading up CalTrans despite the controversies.
Read Anderson’s editorial in the U-T San Diego:
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/apr/10/caltrans-badly-fixing-joel-an....
A memo from his office has provided links to additional documents and articles bolstering his points:
Phony Inspections: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/12/4048771/brown-must-vet-integrity-of-bri...
Cover-ups: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/26/4215756/caltrans-worker-unfired-allowed...
Neglect of Duty: http://www.bsa.ca.gov/reports/summary/I2009-0640
Pay-spiking: http://www.bsa.ca.gov/reports/summary/2010-122
Stealing State Property: http://www.bsa.ca.gov/reports/summary/I2009-0640
Drinking on the job: http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/05/18/caught-on-tape-state-workers-d...
Broken bolts: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/03/27/5296770/bolts-on-new-san-francisco-bay....
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