To Harold A. Crawford, Jr.
Intelligence Officer
Office of the Inspector General; Metropolitan Transit Authority
(copy sent to Pataki)

9/15/99

Dear Mr. Crawford,

Yesterday, a worker with a disability, namely myself, was removed from a job that he has held for nine years. The manner in which this atrocity was planned and carried out while he was out sick reaches a new all time low even for the MTA. There is no doubt in the mind of his co-workers, or for that matter, even in the minds of some of the supervisors why this was done. Because he chooses to speak out against safety violations, and the form of governmental tyranny that encourages these practices, the wrath of one of the most powerful State Authorities in the world has come down upon him. This and the fact that because there is now some overtime associated with this job they want to give my spot to one of their buddies. Watch and see.

The removal from my job, takes place as a direct result of my report to your office. This can only happen in an organization where the government is your employer and need not obey the very laws it brings in to existence. Shielded by a plethora of unethical lawyers and crooked politicians this state sponsored form of assault on the rights of employees, as well as its citizens, will eventually be brought to a stop. I know this is true, past history has indicated that you can only push people so far before they start to push back . For it has been shown, and is a widely accepted fact, that where government can take away the rights of any one person, it is only a matter of time before they can, and do, take away the rights of all of its people. Unfortunately, as employees, we always have to suffer a few casualties before we get to the point where the fear of employer retaliation, is overcome by a sense of anger and indignation. When that happens, and it will, then we will be able to return a sense of justice and order to our work place.

For the present at least, you are assumed by many to be the watchdog for this agency. You wear the somewhat imposing title of inspector general. I do not know for what, or for whom you inspect. I do know that when you find something that needs to be addressed you do not speak with the authority of a general, but rather like a buck private in charge of cleaning the latrines.

I have repeatedly stated in the past, the managers and supervisors that make up our organization for the most part are decent hard working people. Many of them come from within our own ranks. More than a few of them have refused to obey the dictates of unreasonable directives from their higher ups, many at great personal risk, they know they darn sure won't get any help from you. These are the kind of people that have much they could contribute, if they only knew that anyone was really interested. Unfortunately, there are also many that will do anything in order to increase their sense of worth before the Reuters and the Conways of the world. To these individuals, lying, manipulation of evidence, falsification of numbers, insurance fraud and even perjury mean nothing. They carry out these things with a sense of confidence that can only come from the assurance of impunity that the corrupt administration that employs them, a state government agency, can offer. I wait with bated breath for the time when we get a decent law abiding regime back in Albany so that we can expose your Organization for the fraud that it is. Perhaps then, we can replace you with someone who is concerned with the safety and the lives of the people of New York.

I am at home right now as a result of the stress induced by years of exposure to the ongoing unassisted struggles to resolve the safety violations and corrupt practices of the MTA. I say unassisted because it is obvious at this time that my union is either too weak or too frightened to assist me. I am finally at the stage right now where apparently I am on the verge of causing myself some serious health problems I have just been put on medication for the stress, and I will be going to have my heart checked out his coming Thursday. They have until then to see what other surprises they can cook up for me on my return, and I damn sure will return. Understand this though Sir, your people, and your cronies over at the New York City Transit, will have to throw dirt in my face before you see me quit. You represent to me a threat far greater than those who do the actual dirtywork, because it is you that gives sanction to it..SHAME ON YOU!

My most profound disrespect,

Edward Kehoe,

TWU, Local 100, Executive Board Member.
http://www.unionism.com
http://www.NewYorkCityTransit.com
http://www.LaborInformation.com
http://www.mtaig.com