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This DCist failed to mention on New Year's Eve that Mayor Adrian Fenty tapped Gabe Klein to be D.C. Department of Transportation chief. The Washington Business Journal has the story and Matthew Yglesias approves.
Both the paper and Yglesias slug Klein as a former Zipcar executive. But people in D.C. ought to know him for something he's done more recently: Klein, in collaboration with L'Enfant Cafe owner Christopher Lynch and architectural designer Michel Heitstuman, developed the SmartKart. (DCist wrote about the smart fast food stands last December, and the Post wrote up SmartKart executive chef Jordan Lichman here.) There are 12 On the Fly SmartKarts around the city.
Neither this venture nor his work for Zipcar seems to have provided a wealth of management or policy experience. They're both innovative solutions to some pretty annoying, if small-scale, problems particular to life in D.C. The impression that Klein is an innovator who hopes to improve life around the city is an encouraging one.
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the question is - what has he done for adrian lately? how else can his appointment be explained?
I don't know Klein's background as it relates to urban mass transit, so can't speak to his full qualifications, but I would hardly call Zipcar a solution to a "small-scale problem particular to DC". I think it's a fantastic solution for a large problem facing a great number of cities large and small in this country. Zipcar's incredible growth in just a few years is testament to its management and the need for such a company. I joined Zipcar in 2001 when there was one car within walking distance of my house, and there are now probably 30+ cars for me to choose from. Its existence has greatly improved my quality of life, as I'm sure it has for many others, as well as taken privately owned cars off of the city's streets.
I second AMDCer's comments about Zipcar. Zipcar addresses problems not exclusive to DC, but common in many urban areas.
Furthermore, Zipcar's success is largely due to their keen understanding of urban issues. Such analysis could have and should have been done by transit authorities and city officials but wasn't because they were too busy using old-fashioned solutions for modern problems.
Such an appointment suggests someone who finally understands the way regular people live their lives will be working in the Department of Transportation.
I second AMDCer's comments about Zipcar. Zipcar addresses problems not exclusive to DC, but common in many urban areas.
Furthermore, Zipcar's success is largely due to their keen understanding of urban issues. Such analysis could have and should have been done by transit authorities and city officials but wasn't because they were too busy using old-fashioned solutions for modern problems.
Such an appointment suggests someone who finally understands the way regular people live their lives will be working in the Department of Transportation.
As I've pointed out on other blogs where folks have pooh-poohed the selection of Klein, I will say this: My experience with him in AM when he worked for zipcar was great. He not only understood the issues of the neighborhood, but he was also willing to donate zipcars to neighborhood activities like park clean ups. I realize that some of you will think that's small potatoes, but it speaks a lot for someone's willingness to at least understand (and empathize with) the community where their company is based.
DDOT ranks right up there with DCRA and DPR as one of THE WORST DEPARTMENTS in the city (thanks Grahamstander, but I guess since you drive everywhere and park wherever you want it doesn't matter) and if Klein does nothing else but improve customer service, it will be a giant step in the right direction.
DCguvworker: According to the City Paper, he catered Fenty's recent birthday party fundraiser. (Although I'm much more interested in his work with Zipcar and On The Fly. Zipcar's relationship to transportation is obvious, but less obviously, On The Fly's mission is closely linked to DDOT's powers as well -- the agency also governs most use of public space. As a Zipcar client who's tired of having nothing but half-smokes for a super-quick lunch option, I am optimistic.)
If anyone can put innovative, green public transportation changes to DC, it'd be Gabe. I've know him for a few years and he's a real team player, has a great work ethic, and has a true passion for improving the quality of life in DC. I just know that he'll do an incredible job at turning DC into a Portland or Berlin on the Potomac when it comes to public transportation and spaces. Go Gabe!
Gabe will need to draw on a wealth of internal strength perseverance to deal with the DDOT cesspool of unethical managers and overall incompetence--the motto at DDOT is only a handful of employee do the lionshare of the work...
And let me third AMDCer's remarks! While I know nothing about Mr. Klein, I don't think one can underplay the importance of Zipcar in urban areas and as a plausible solution to reducing the amount of cars on the road and carbon in the air. However, not only does Zipcar reduce the amount of cars, but as a carless household I can say that it also encourages other environmentally friendly and community friendly endeavors, like buying used furniture off Craigslist and making donations of used items to Salvation Army and Goodwill.
Sounds like a bad choice. DC should be doing more to ENCOURAGE car ownership, especially among its poorest residents. It has been proven time and time again that car ownership, and the mobility it brings (especially the ability to drive to jobs in growing suburbs) is a key to economic empowerment.
Perhaps Klein's experience with "On the Fly" and Zipcar, and his encounters with DDOT Public Space over same, is just the thing to bitch-slap DDOT's Public Space permitting operation. At least get it up to DCRA levels of transparency and efficiency. I know that's not saying much.
It was the program manager Kelly who wanted to rid the District of Gabe Klein's innovative On-the-Fly. Now that Gabe will be in charge of DDOT maybe he will finally send Kelly packing.