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The Sudden Resignation Of AC Transit's General Manager March 27, 2015 One of the more worrisome bits of news coming out of Oakland-area government this week was yesterday’s abrupt announcement of the immediate forced retirement of AC Transit General Manager David Armijo. Worrisome because, since we don’t know the cause of the breakup between Armijo and AC, it’s unclear what short-term or long-term effects this will have on one of the Bay Area’s most important transportation components. The Armijo announcement was particularly surprising given that the General Manager had appeared to return AC Transit management to a period of financial and organizational stability following the tumultuous tenure of one of his predecessors, Rick Fernandez. Fernandez, who was best known for establishing a highly-controversial single-source self-described “partnernship” with Belgian-based bus manufacturer Van Hool to supply buses for AC Transit, resigned in from the agency in 2009 under pressure from some members of the public, the media, and some members of the Board of Directors. Fernandez was replaced on an interim basis by former Alameda County Supervisor Mary King until Armijo was hired in 2012. In a terse announcement under the heading "General Manager Armijo Resigns" was posted on the AC Transit website on Thursday, Mary 26, reading simply: "AC Transit General Manager David Armijo resigned today, effective immediately, by letter provided to the District's Board of Directors, in which Mr. Armijo stated that his tenure at the District was 'one of the most satisfying of any of the positions I have held during my 30-year career in transit.'" The Armijo resignation letter itself was not provided online by the district. However, excerpts published in the Oakland Tribune and other Bay Area News group newspapers yesterday recited some of the General Manager’s accomplishments during his three year tenure at AC Transit, with no clue as to the reasons he was leaving. However the Tribune reported, and other sources confirmed, that Armijo’s resignation came a day before a Friday closed door meeting in which the members AC Transit Board of Directors were set to consider a resolution—apparently sponsored by Board President Chris Peeples—to terminate Armijo’s employment. In response to the Armijo resignation announcement, retired Oakland architect Joyce Roy, a frequent speaker at AC Transit Board meetings and an Armijo supporter, sent out a scathing email blast on Thursday criticizing the Board for forcing Armijo’s departure and calling for a Grand Jury investigation of the agency. Roy urged people on her email list to “email all the board members … and ask them to either NOT accept the GM resignation or resign themselves.” More information on this unfolding situation will be provided as soon as its made available.
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