A Letter to Nicolas Sarkozy

6/15/2010

President Nicholas Sarkozy
Palais de l'Elysée
Paris, France


Dear President Sarkozy:

Bonjour. Comment allez-vous? First, I want to compliment you on your excellent transportation system. I have traveled many times in France and am always impressed with how easy it is to get around, not only in Paris but in the rest of France as well. From the Metro and the RER trains to the RATP bus system, your transit system cannot be beaten.

Je ne parle pas Français tres bien. Please forgive my poor attempts at writing in French.

I have enclosed an open letter to Connecticut Transit located in Hartford, CT, USA that is self-explanatory. Because of the issues raised in the letter, I am contacting you and asking for one of the following:

1. On behalf of Connecticut Transit, I would like to express an invitation to come to Hartford, CT and tour the facilities of ConnecticutTransit. Please bring along staff from your excellent transportation system. I know that Connecticut Transit would welcome suggestions.

During your visit please feel free to stay with us in our large sunny guest room that overlooks beautiful blossoming cherry trees.

Would it be possible for you after touring these facilities to donate some of the Paris Metro staff’s time to travel to Connecticut to run a series of workshops for Connecticut Transit located in Hartford, CT in the USA. These training sessions would be to help Connecticut Transit “get it right.” In other words, could your staff consult with CT Transit to help them learn how to upgrade the Connecticut transportation system? As you will see, Connecticut Transit is toujours malade

2. Another option in lieu of training sessions would be to sponsor a series of “live-aid concerts.” These concerts would raise money to revamp and upgrade the CT transportation system. Imagine U-2—the band, not your metro line—performing.

Everyday, cars clog our highways spewing out noxious fumes. One is reminded of spice-laden camels raising clouds of dust and sand crossing the desert toward Cairo. One is reminded of produce-laden and donkey-drawn carts braying and brawling traveling past traffic clogged cars.

One is also unfortunately reminded of the factory smokestacks of West Virginia and a coal-choked sky. Only instead of several large smokestacks, we in Connecticut face hundreds, if not thousands of tiny smokestacks from private vehicles. Fumes that if unchecked will surely drift to over the ocean to Paris.

Thank you for your attention and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,




Mel Hathorn