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12:00 News
July 2, 1969
RAY MOORE When a Decatur housewife - not mine, incidentally -
heard that. Richard fich had ecapped-down-an MARTA.
chairman, she said, "That's Séod 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
one more albatross hovering over last Hovenbder a! etnies
of rapid transit.
Another person who watched MARTA in action - if that is
the proper word for it - said, "Mr. Rich is an intelli-
gent, forceful man —- perhaps too forceful and authori-
tarian. He ran the board like he was running an effi-
cient store. But there were many volunteers, and
volunteers don't always jump like paid employees."
That same force and authority, however, was necessary
to bring together and hold together a METRO group -
different people with different ideas and different
interests. Richard Rich held them because of who he is
and what he is.
Page 2
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RAY MOORE
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Gopy of the scrip?
The Board will elect 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 ever is not likely to
forget the opposition to MARTA from the Negro community.
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.
Rich is quoted as saying he believes a younger man ought
to head the authority - one who has the patience to wait
for things to happen and see them through.
Young? Maybe. Patient? Please, not while we're stalle
on the expressway - cooling in a steel pot on a concrete
griddle.