U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Chicago, and state Sen. James Meeks Jr., I-Chicago, called for the resignation of Metra Chairman Jeffery Ladd Wednesday for his "insensitivity and bias against the Chicago Southland."
Jackson and Meeks' demand marked the second attack in three days on Ladd and the regional commuter rail system after it announced plans to build a $1.1 billion line between O'Hare International Airport and Joliet.
A one-page statement issued by Jackson and Meeks referred to the proposed commuter line as the "white line" and attacked Ladd for saying Metra is "not a social welfare agency."
"Mr. Ladd says that mass transit shouldn't be a welfare program. Well, it shouldn't be a rich-folks-to-work program either," Jackson said in the statement.
Metra has spent more than $1 billion on service to north, west and southwest suburbs, while riders in Chicago's South Side and South Suburbs are using dilapidated platforms built as temporary stations 80 years ago, he said.
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"For 10 years, Metra has advised Southland officials to 'be patient. Your day will come next,'" Jackson said. "Metra needs a new vision and a renewed sense of public service. That is not possible without new leadership."
Metra officials could not be reached for comment.
On Monday, the Southland Caucus of some 20 area state legislators wrote a letter to Ladd saying they were "appalled" by Metra's proposal. Ladd has since agreed to meet with the legislators on Friday.
The caucus, led by state Sen. Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, threatened political retribution if Ladd did not offer a "full and timely response."
"Should that response not be timely nor sufficient, you can expect that we will formally call you before Legislative committees that we chair, or are members of, to achieve an appropriate response and result," the letter said.
On Wednesday, Halvorson said she supports Meeks and Jackson taking a strong stand against Metra, but did not have enough time to decide if she agrees that Ladd should resign.
"The Southland Caucus's purpose was to address (Ladd) by letter and appointment," she said. "What Rev. Meeks and Rep. Jackson did was not part of the caucus. Rev. Meeks signed our letter, but his action today is separate from the letter."
Ladd's home county of McHenry, the smallest, least diverse county in Metra's service area, has received a "disproportionate share of new service under Ladd's administration," Meeks said.
"Metra needs leaders who are sensitive to the concept of public service and who will invest fairly and equitably in a regional transportation network," he said.
The Southland Caucus accused Metra of using "thousand of dollars" contributed by south suburbs for planning to "unilaterally" decide "our 2 million residents' needs don't matter and are not a priority of your agency."
"Clearly, your planning-through-press-conference approach ignores the fact that south and southwest suburbs, Will County as well as South Chicago, endure not only the longest commute times in the Chicago area, but in the nation," the caucus wrote.
The letter is signed by at least 12 members of the caucus, including Meeks, Halvorson, state Rep. David Miller, D-Dolton, and state Rep. George Scully, D-Flossmoor, Halvorson said.
Ed Paesel, executive director of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, said area communities contributed about $2,000 to $3,000 each just for the second phase of planning for the EJ & E Circumferential Line.
"Part of the travesty here is at least Metra could have come back to those communities and given them a report saying they were going to make this announcement," Paesel said. "Instead, in the middle of the study they make this announcement without consulting the communities asked to contribute dollars to it."
Meeks and Halvorson said the proposed line should be extended through the South Suburbs to give residents access to jobs in the O'Hare area and Hoffman Estates, where it also stretches.
Phil Rockrohr can be reached at prockrohr@nwitimes.com or (219) 933-3248.
