Letter to Bernard Bulche

7/3/2010

Bernard Bulcke
Permanent Representative to the European Union
Rue de la Loi 61-63
1040 Brussels,
Belgium


Dear Representative Bulcke:

Guten morgen. Sprechen sie Duetsch nicht. I do not speak German very well so please forgive me.

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 and because we all know that the European Transit system is one of the most efficient in the world, I am asking if you could help us in Connecticut to upgrade our inefficient transit system. Could you arrange to place on the agenda of the next meeting of the Council of Ministers of the European Union the two items listed below?

1. Send staff over to run a series of workshops for Connecticut Transit to help them get it right. In other words, could your staff consult with CT Transit to help them learn how to upgrade the Connecticut transportation system?

2. Another option in lieu of sending staff 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.

I know that Commissioner Jeffery Parker of the Connecticut Department of Transportation located at 2800 Berlin turnpike, Newington, CT 06111, USA. (Telephone 00-1-860-594-2000) would be most appreciative. He is at his wits end trying to get the system functional.

Also Arthur L. Handman, Executive Director, Connecticut Transit 100 Leibert Road, Hartford, CT 06141-0006. (Telephone: 00-1-860-522-8101) is equally desperate.

Both of these men are anxiously waiting to hear from you.

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 your country.

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

Sincerely,



Mel Hathorn

Cc:
Chancellor Angela Merkel, Berlin, Germany
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Rome, Italy
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Moscow, Russia
President Nicholas Sarkosy, Paris, France
Peter Hendy, Commissioner Transport for London
Mr. Richard Sarles, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Jay Walder, CEO, NY Metropolitan Transit Authority
Jeffery Mullen, CEO, Boston MBTA
Commissioner, Joseph Marie, Connecticut Department of Transportation
Capital Region Council of Governments
Connecticut Fund for the Environment
Transit for Connecticut
Mayor Eddie Perez, City of Hartford
MetroHartford International Business Center
Vicki Shotland, Greater Hartford Transit District
Business For Downtown
Capital City Economic Development Authority
State Transportation Committee
Secretary Ray LaHood, Secretary US Department of Transportation
Congressman John Larsen
Senators Chris Dodd & Joe Lieberman
Representative Jim O’Rourke
Various businesses that may be concerned about these issues
www.authorsden.com/mel