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Taking note . . .

Observations about public affairs in the nation’s capital
by the editor of The Common Denominator

WHAT’S THE STORY? Fingerpointing between officials of Penn Parking Inc. and Metro continues as the parties dispute who is withholding information about machinery and recently dismissed parking lot cashiers.

Councilman and Metro board member Jim Graham and Metro spokesman Steven Taub both said Penn Parking had been withholding videotapes of the parking lot cashiers from Metro, which would verify whether cashiers were stealing lot funds or whether Metro’s equipment was faulty.

Penn Parking President Lisa Renshaw told Common Denominator reporter Melissa Ferrara that Metro employees came to her office around 2 p.m. March 4, copied paperwork and took the videotapes. Metro denies taking the tapes. Taub said Metro and Penn Parking made arrangements to accommodate Renshaw’s request to first copy the tapes.

"Miss Renshaw and Penn Parking will make copies of the tapes and provide them tomorrow," Taub said. At press time, The Common Denominator was unable to determine which set of facts was true.

Renshaw and Taub said their contract provides Metro access to any information pertaining to Penn Parking and Metro’s partnership. Renshaw said she had no issue with Metro making copies of paperwork. According to Renshaw, she asked Metro if she could make copies of the tapes before they took them. Metro employees refused her request and left with the tapes, she said.

Renshaw made the tapes to try to confirm Metro’s machines were accurate and to verify any cashier discrepancies. "I made the tapes on my own, with my own money," Renshaw said. "I need to prove to the National Labor Review Board that these were justified [employee] removals."

Councilman and Metro board alternate David Catania called the situation "rich in opportunity to speculate." He said he could not be positive of which party has been forthcoming, but his emphasis is on ending Penn Parking and Metro’s relationship.

Earlier in the week, the union representing Metro parking lot cashiers, including 15 who are contesting their dismissals over alleged thefts, held a press conference to demand due process. Parking and Service Workers Union Local 27 represents the 75 current Penn Parking employees working at Metro facilities and the 15 of 31 fired employees seeking arbitration.

Emil Abate, secretary-treasurer of Local 27, said Metro installed new equipment a year and a half ago to help monitor cash flow from the garages, but the new equipment needs to be "verified and re-verified" to ensure its accuracy. Penn Parking tried to check the equipment, but Metro denied its requests, said Penn Parking president Renshaw.

Metro officials said they provided Penn Parking with information and evidence pertaining to the individuals they sought to remove from operating this equipment. Penn Parking removed the specified employees, based on this information, and has shared this information with the union, according to Renshaw and union representatives. But Local 27 and Penn Parking both believe more information is needed to complete grievance proceedings.

"This is a fundamental issue of justice," Abate added.

Metro General Manager Richard White has agreed to meet with Local 27 representatives on March 19.

Copyright 2004, The Common Denominator