Email from George Dondero, SCCRTC Executive Director, demanding immediate removal of hoax apology letter was received April 7 and can be seen at the end of this post.
Hoax apology letter and April 1st blog post can be seen here: http://greenstartupstory.com/2014/04/01/rtcapology2cabrillo/
Would love to get your comments, feedback, questions!…
| Subject: | Re: Fraudulent letter |
|---|---|
| Date: | Tue, 08 Apr 2014 14:06:28 -0700 |
| From: | Paul McGrath <paulm@ridespring.com> |
| To: | George Dondero <gdondero@sccrtc.org> |
| CC: | john.leopold@co.santa-cruz.ca.us, rlj12@comcast.net, neal.coonerty@co.santa-cruz.ca.us, emontesino@ci.watsonville.ca.us, dnortondesigns@msn.com, dlane@cityofsantacruz.com, dene@bustichi.com, lrobinson@cityofsantacruz.com, fishsweetheart@netzero.com, tim_gubbins@dot.ca.gov, bds022@co.santa-cruz.ca.us, greg.caput@co.santa-cruz.ca.us, bruce.mcpherson@co.santa-cruz.ca.us |
Dear Mr. Dondero:
I have received your request to remove the ‘April’s Fool’ hoax letter of apology that was posted on my blog on April 1st: http://greenstartupstory.com/2014/04/01/rtcapology2cabrillo/
I confirm that I did fabricate this letter in the early hours of April 1st, and promote it as truth throughout most of April Fools day. By the morning of April 2nd I had identified the apology letter as a hoax.
However, I do stand by many of the statements in the letter as true. Specifically:
1. “actions of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission that have resulted in Cabrillo College being denied an effective commute trip reduction program over the past five years”
2. “the Climate Initiative Task Force that put in tremendous work to identify what was needed to address the most significant source of CO2 at Cabrillo College – the daily commute”
3. “in 2008 my agency [SCCRTC] claimed that we had an effective commute program for Cabrillo College when we did not”
4. “in 2012 we [SCCRTC] denied the failure of our program, and took no action at the time to correct these failings”
5. “Stop Work Order issued by the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District in January”
6. “confrontation by local commute consultant, Mr. McGrath at the RTC public hearing on March 6″
7. “The huge challenges of traffic congestion, pollution, and global warming are too great to waste one more day defending unworkable programs”
In fact, the only three elements of the letter that are untrue are:
- You reaching out to Cabrillo College
- You apologizing to Cabrillo College
- You showing interest in supporting Cabrillo College in implementing a proven and effective commute program
I apologize if my attempt to falsely portray you taking responsibility, and positively serving our community has caused you distress.
I will be providing a response to your request soon.
In the meantime I suggest that you do consider issuing a real apology to Cabrillo College. This will be considered an overdue and necessary positive step by those most familiar with this unfortunate story. For example:
Judy Cassada, former Co-Chair, Climate Initiative Task Force at Cabrillo College, and recipient of hoax apology letter:
“I’m furious precious grant funds were wasted, but pleased it was uncovered. In a more perfect world, I think the taxpayers, our Cabrillo students, and certainly the Air Pollution Control Board, certainly do deserve an apology!”
Three examples of the work of the Climate Initiative Task Force at Cabrillo College:
Cabrillo College Climate Action Plan
http://rs.acupcc.org/site_media/uploads/cap/552-cap.pdf
CABRILLO LAUNCHES PARTNERSHIP WITH RIDESPRING ON EARTH DAY
http://greenstartupstory.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/ridespringcabrilloprelease22apr08.pdf
Cabrillo Seeks New Funding for Ride Share Program
http://www.cabrillo.edu/services/marketing/media/2013/general/2013_0713_RideShareProgramFunding_Sentinel.pdf
Micah Posner, City of Santa Cruz Council member, and former People Power Director after reading hoax SCCRTC letter of apology:
“Dear Paul,
Remarkable. Nice work.
Speaks well of George as well.
Micah”
Mr. Posner has been a powerfully effective advocate and activist for alternative transportation in our community for many years. As an outspoken critic of transportation programs that damage our environment and fail to serve our community, Micah has followed this story closely, and has read the 2012 RideSpring report that eventually led to the Stop Work Order being issued by the Air District in January of this year:
How the Air District and the RTC derailed Cabrillo College’s CO2 reduction plan, while wasting $120,000 of public funds
http://greenstartupstory.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/ridespringcabrilloreportjune2012-2.pdf
This report was an attempt to bring much needed transparency and honesty to how traffic/pollution reduction funds are being used by the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission in our community. I suggest you start doing the same.
In the interests of transparency I will also be posting your request, and this email to my blog: www.greenstartupstory.com
Sincerely,
Paul
–
Paul McGrath
Commute Consultant
https://twitter.com/RideSpring
RideSpring
www.ridespring.com
831.278.0312
Blog: www.greenstartupstory.com
–
On 4/7/14 8:20 AM, George Dondero wrote:
Dear Mr. McGrath:
The letter posted on your website under the SCCRTC letterhead, addressed to Judy Cassada and Nicole Crane at Cabrillo College, and supposedly signed by me is fraudulent. Regardless of your suggestion that creation of this letter was a joke, it is in fact an unauthorized representation of communication by a public agency.
Please remove the letter from your website immediately.
Sincerely,
George Dondero
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George Dondero, Executive Director Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission 1523 Pacific Avenue | Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Main Office 831.460.3200 | Watsonville 831.768.8012 Direct 831.460.3202 | Mobile 831.332.5441 Follow our social networks for the latest RTC news |
