For
Immediate Release August 11, 2014
Citizens call for Resignation of PSTA CEO
Brad Miller
Pinellas
Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) returns $354,000 to Department of
Homeland Security
after public controversy forces investigation
(With
Links)
St.
Petersburg--The Pinellas County citizens’ group named No
Tax for Tracks (NTFT), through their
spokesperson Barb Haselden, has called for the resignation of Brad
Miller, CEO of Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) to step
down from his post after a prolonged pattern of unacceptable
leadership and lack of transparency regarding the Department of
Homeland security Grant program.
 |
| PSTA CEO Brad Miller |
In
May 2014, concerns were brought forward by local citizens
regarding the possible misuse of Federal Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) grant money by PSTA.
Since
9/11, DHS grant money has been available to public
transit agencies nationwide to help citizens protect themselves
from terrorism through education initiatives on how to
recognize suspicious activities surrounding public transit, such as
abandoned packages, and how to alert transit authorities if they see
anything suspicious. PSTA applied for, and received grant money
from DHS to create such a campaign according to the guidelines
of the CARES
program- Community Awareness Results
in Everyone's Security.
“Instead PSTA
played
loose with the rules and
developed a series of feel
good commercials
and graphic bus wraps with no connection to protection of the
citizens against the very real threat of terrorism in our community,
who often target mass transit,” says Barb Haselden, spokesperson
for No Tax for Tracks, a grassroots group out of Pinellas
County. “These Bus wraps and tv
commercials both directed the
public to go to Greenlight Pinellas.com, thus using the grant monies
to promote the Greenlight tax increase referendum in November.”
 |
| No Tax For Tracks Pinellas |
Congressman
David Jolly was contacted by citizens and asked to bring the charges
from local citizens to the proper authorities at the DHS for review.
After review of the materials, the DHS informed PSTA staff in a
conference call early last week that the radio and television ads did
not promote security awareness according to information
released by PSTA to the media. On
Wednesday, July 30th, PSTA CEO Brad Miller sent a reimbursement
check for $354,000 to Homeland Security. This grant refund was paid
with precious operating dollars to cover the $345,000 which was
spent.
Board
of Directors meeting one month earlier on June 25, 2014
This
turnabout is in stark contrast to the indignant PSTA reaction one
month earlier when the story first surfaced on air.
Local channel
10 News investigative reporter Mike Deeson picked up on the story and
reported his findings on the issue on June 23. Two days later at
the PSTA board meeting on 6/25/14, under the direction of CEO Brad
Miller and PSTA Board Chairman Ken Welch, they ridiculed the citizens
involved, with Miller stating publicly they were spreading
misinformation , and even a
board member discussed demanding a retraction
from Mike Deeson during the meeting.
Most
importantly, when CEO Miller was
asked directly by Board Member Mark
Deighton to confirm that DHS was aware of how the funds were used and
that they had no problem with the campaign, Miller stated flatly,
"That
is correct." Now we know one
month later that declaration was not accurate.
Also, Pinellas County Commissioner and PSTA
Chairman Ken Welch added at the same meeting during the
discussion, “On my Facebook page I have this slogan; Keep
calm and support Greenlight. For
those of us that have been in campaigns we know this is the way it
will be all the way to November, opponents will use every tactic they
have to defeat Greenlight."
Citizens
call for Resignation of CEO Brad Miller.
“PSTA
has violated the public trust and fiduciary duty under the leadership
of CEO Miller and County Commissioner/ PSTA Chair Ken Welch by misuse
of DHS taxpayer funding designated to protect our citizens from
violence and terrorism.” says Haselden. “PSTA will push
their agenda to pass Greenlight at any cost even to jeopardize the
safety of our population. They have mocked the public who questioned
their actions.”
Among PSTA Guiding
principles
we find:
- Provide good stewardship of public funding
- Conduct business and activities with transparency, integrity and high ethical standards
“These
principles have not been met and for these reasons and countless more
instances of our perception of mismanagement of our public transit
agency PSTA, we call for Mr. Miller's resignation immediately.”
states Haselden on behalf of No Tax for Tracks.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Watch
Mike Deeson August 1, 2014 follow up on air report here following the
return of the money:
No Tax for Tracks is a
grassroots group who support sound public transportation. For more
information on the group go to www.notaxfortracks.com Questions can
be directed to Barb Haselden, 727-709-7039, spokesman for NTFT.
Paid
political advertisement paid for by No Tax for Tracks, 319 39th
Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33703
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