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l.j ... ' ©@ G 12:00 News July 2, 1969 RAY MOORE When a Decatur housewife - not mine, incidentally ~ heard that Richard Rich had stepped down as MARTA chairman, she said, "That's good I'm tiring of hearin, our neighbors say he only wants rapid transit so people can get downtown to his store." That criticism was unjustified by logic - because the tougher it is to get down town, the more Rich will sell in suburban stores. Moreover, those who worked with him know him as a public spirited man who wants what's best for Atlanta. Still, the complaint was heard frequently - and it was I one more albatross hovering over last November's ' sinkin of rapid transit. Another person who watched MARTA in action - if that iE the proper word for it - said, "Mr. Rich is an intelligent, . forceful man - perhaps too forceful and authoritarian. He ran the board like he was running an effi- cient store. But there were many volunteers, and volunteers don't always jumµ like paid employees." That same force and authority, however, was necessary to bring together and hold t ogether a METRO group different people with different ideas and different interests. Richard Rich held them because of who he ii and what he is. �r- 7 @ RAY MOORE The Board will elec.t a permanent chairman to take Rich's ; place. But Mayor Allen will name a person · to fill his seat on the board. When he's looking around, the Mayor is not likely to forget the opposition to MARTA from the Negro community. · l MARTA tried to counter that by hiring a Negro staff member late in the game. It was too late. He was the last hired and the first fired after the election. I Rich is quoted as saying he be1ieves a younger man ought I to head the authority - one who has the patience to wait ; for things to happen and see them through. t Young? Maybe. Patient? Please, not while we're stalle, on the expressway - cooling in a steel pot on a concrete griddle. I \ �