Letter to Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yesui

7/8/2010

Ambassador Zhang Yesui
Chinese Embassy Washington, DC
2201 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20007

Dear Ambassador Yesui:

I am writing on behalf of the citizens of the State of Connecticut and I have enclosed an open letter to Connecticut Transit located in Hartford, CT that is self-explanatory.

After reading this letter, I am sure you will agree that although Connecticut is a fine state overall, in terms of its public transportation it is a third world country.

I have come up with a possible solution to the problem that Connecticut faces concerning its public transportation system. It involves receiving the help of both China and India.

Regarding China’s role in helping Connecticut: I am requesting that you contact President Jiang Zemin of the People’s Republic of China. Could he please donate between 500 – 1000 rickshaw drivers to supplement Connecticut Transit routes? In addition to providing employment for some of your workers, we in Connecticut would be most grateful to the Chinese Government for their aid.

I estimate that of these 500 – 1000 drivers, 300- would be located in the Stamford, Greenwich and Darien areas. The rest would be distributed between Hartford and New Haven. These rickshaw drivers would transport Connecticut citizens to various locations around the area.

India’s role would be to send workers over to staff call centers. These call centers would coordinate rickshaw transfers, arrange pickups, routes etc. I will be contacting the Indian Government for their help as well.

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
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