Illinois state Rep. Luis Arroyo, D-Chicago, congratulated the agency for having “hit the lottery” by receiving a share of the $45 billion “Rebuild Illinois” state bond program that Arroyo, as chairman of the House Appropriations-Capital Committee, helped draw up and pass in June. But the Chicago Democrat pointedly added that he was disappointed that he didn’t see any “brown” faces on Metra’s board of directors.
“I don’t see no Latinos on this board. I don’t see no Latino women on this board,” said Arroyo, who was born in Puerto Rico, according to his biography. “With all due respect … this looks like a good old boys network to me. That needs to change.”
From 2013 to 2017, however, former federal judge Manuel Barbosa, of Mexican heritage, represented Kane County on Metra’s board. On Wednesday, a Metra spokesman said the agency had no comment on Arroyo’s statements.
Metra’s 11-member board is appointed by the six Northeastern Illinois county chairs, suburban Cook County members, and Chicago’s mayor. Currently, all are white males except for Metra’s vice chair, Romayne Brown, who is African-American. Brown was appointed by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Director Cory Thames, also African-American, was appointed by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski introduced Arroyo as a “good friend and supporter of Metra.” Derwinski remarked that a $7.3-million renovation of Metra’s Healy Station, located in Arroyo’s Northwest Side district, is almost complete.
Arroyo cited Metra’s intensive campaign in Springfield this spring to secure funding for the agency’s capital needs, including new locomotives and coaches, and upgrades for bridges and stations.
“(If) you need help from us in the General Assembly and you see a Latino like me in front of your board, (then) you better make sure that somebody that looks like me is on that board. Because right now, there’s nobody that looks like me on that board,” Arroyo said.
Arroyo said the board of the CTA, which almost entirely serves the city, was “very diverse.” He said there were Latino “doctors, lawyers, and engineers” living in the suburbs served by Metra.
“Why am I not seeing somebody that looks like me on that board?” he asked, referring to the Metra board members in front of him. “Where’s the brown? Where’s the brown on that board? I don’t see it.”
Arroyo reiterated: “I help you, you need to help back. You need to have a diverse board.”
Arroyo’s daughter, Denise Arroyo-Feliciano, is a $95,600-a year program administrator in Metra’s emergency preparedness office, according to a Regional Transportation Authority database.
In 2013, former Metra CEO Alex Clifford alleged that Arroyo had asked him to hire the lawmaker’s candidate for an open deputy director position during a meeting with Latino lawmakers. Clifford said he refused to take the name. Arroyo denied making recommendations or pressuring Clifford. Clifford was ousted by Metra’s board after making the allegations of political pressure.
In 2013, Arroyo appeared before Metra’s board and asked that the Healy Station be renamed for Puerto Rican baseball Hall-of-Famer Roberto Clemente. No action was taken on Arroyo’s request.
According to a 2017 analysis of U.S. Census data by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Hispanics make up 23 percent of the Northeastern Illinois region. Hispanic population growth has been ubiquitous throughout the region, with roughly half of the growth in Cook County and the other half spread among the remaining counties, the analysis noted.
Arroyo’s statements are racist, as all racial quotas are. MLK advocated for a “color blind” society, essentially a pure meritocracy, and that’s should be good enough for everyone. Folks too young to remember MLK and LBJ and the 1960s civil rights issue don’t understand what racism means, though racism is one of their favorite words. Any person of any “race'” can be a racist, like Arroyo. And Arroyo’s “brown people” are not a seperate race anyway. They descend from white Spanish, French and Irish, black Caribbean Africans, with a bit of the indigenous “Indians” of Central America as well. All bases covered. But politicians form an especially odious “race” all their own.
Arroyo is one of the most obnoxious braying asses in Illinois politics which given the company, is quite an achievement. Metra has enough issues without having to deal with the racial spoils racket that is Chicago and Cook County.
For years I have been saying the RTA/CTA/METRTA/PACE board(s) are filled with political hacks. Now I have some backing to my claim of the stunningly obvious.
Mike Friedman’s comments reflect what was accepted and taught in much of American higher education about the last 10 years of my career and is even more dominate today. It is also reflected in much of today’s news reporting and broadcasting. It was on display in the Obama Justice Department when several whistleblowers who were employed in the civil rights department testified they’d been instructed that only whites should be considered guilty of racial hate crimes.
DONALD – You’re right. “Affirmative Action” and racial quotas can be (not always is but can be) a cover for just plain simple Chicago-style corruption.
This thread ended up in a brickbat toss involving racism and what it is. The concern that Arroyo expressed about the composition of the board was misplaced. In Chicago the ongoing corruption drains public funds and delivers poor results. Why isn’t he concerned about kickbacks, insider deals, and other forms of corruption? THAT’s the problem in Chicago.
Maybe we would have less racism, if we quit having to check boxes (supposedly tracking its eradication) on forms and documents. There is only one race: human! Of course, this would put the race hustling industry out of business….which means “race” is really about money….and corruption.
Mark, I was in a band called “Room Temperature IQ.”
Brett – great comment there, friend…..however…..Metra is a transit agency……the same as the CTA, both falling under the umbrella of the RTA.
Mike Friedman – Excuse me? I’m white (sort of) and you have no right whatsoever to pin the “racism” label on me, my family (mostly white), my ancestors (all of them sort of white) or my friends (many whites). Yes racism exists but not anywhere around me, never has, never will. And contrary to your ill-informed post, racism exists in all races. Nothing is more racist than the Affirmative Action which your ilk supports.
Yes the suburbs are much more diverse these days, which is a good thing. Certainly pertains to my neighborhood (split between the Town of Brookfield and the City of Brookfield) west of Milwaukee. The natural order of things is such that over a period of time suburban county commissions, city councils, town boards, school district boards, etc. will become more diverse. It won’t happen because of an unconstitutional racial quota system but because good candidates of all races will stand for election.
In my neighborhood and everywhere I go, totally contrary to your ill-informed and frankly hateful post, everyone is treated the same regardless of race. For example my five-member condo board has two foreign-born minorities (one from India and one Mexican) and one minority sort-of white (me).
My suburban neighborhood includes white Americans, African-Americans, Asian Indians (Catholic, Sikh, Hindu and Muslim), Chinese, Japanese, and immigrants from white Europe. There are no problems. We all get along super fine with total respect to each other. Stop pointing the finger, Mike. Pointing the finger says way more about you then it speaks of anyone else. Spend more time looking in the mirror, Mike, and less time accusing other people.
Black and brown people didn’t invent racism. White people did. So they could have someone to be better than (and own and exploit all over the world). But white people are the ones who are always saying “there are only human beings.” Yeah. No.
If brown and black and Asian folks were, in fact, treated like white people this wouldn’t be an issue. But they are not, of course.
Pretending that racism doesn’t exist is silly. Representation is important. The suburbs are becoming more diverse and travel patterns don’t just involve people traveling from Dupage to Chicago. They involve people traveling infall directions. But Metra can’t deal with that because it’s constituency is mostly white commuters going downtown.
@ Mark Kaspar, Thank you, I mean that Metra is a Railroad. And 2 other Railroads operate it also, UP & BNSF. No comparison to CTA.
As long as educational opportunities are limited to the wealth, or lack of it, in communities there will never be equality. Without adequate, equal, educational resources we are doomed to this universal victimhood, both perceived and actual.
What a shame. Illinois is circling the drain. Mr. Arroyo is obviously running on all that a room temperature IQ provides. “I don’t see no”…….absolutely cringeworthy.
Amen, John Winter.
Maybe Arroyu needs a history lesson from another man of color, Martin Luther King.
“I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
Unfortunately, nearly everyone in government needs the same lesson.
Oh and that “ look like me” line, You have blues eyes and you “look” Caucasian to me you dumb shit.
Truer words were never spoken.
He is the perfect example of why affirmative action, is a bad idea. He is an ignorant BS’er who got the most votes. OH And that bit about that example of the CTA. Let me tell you, I was born & raised in Chicago, NOT the burbs!!!! in the 80s & 90s the CTA was so diverse with one group that people complained, then only then did the CTA start hiring more Latinos. Latinos in the 70s 80s & 90s in Chicago, the city didn’t give a ….. about them. Back then there was only one minority, and Latinos weren’t it. Now its more “diverse” per sé.
That “Good ole Boys” line is not race related, Here in Miami, There is absolutely a “Good Ole Boys” system, but here its Hispanic, ya see, It doesn’t natter about race in who the “ Good Ole Boys” are its about “Who’s the Majority “ is what matters. Ignorant , stupid people like this “Come mierda” make the rest of hard working people who deserve and have to EARN their own especially harder because there are “minorities” even harder. Fk this guy, Metra is NOT a transit agency, He can pull this shit on CTA but not Metra.
I would make a deal with this prestigious politician – I’d give his constituents three seats on the Metra Board – in return for the resignation of all the millions of women and minorities who got their jobs or appointments not through qualification but through affirmative action.
In the text of the article as well as beneath his picture, it mentions Illinois STATE representative which means he’s in STATE government in the STATE legislature and not a United States Congressmen serving in the US House of Representatives, kids. Was there any mention of US Congressman?
Government has been usurped by money being speech. BUT, in case you have not looked lately, unelected corporate power is steadily perpetrating all the worst fears of “Brave New World.” “1984” etc. with no recourse. Government is way behind unless you live win China. At least “The US Constitution” has some reins on government.
There is only racism, there is no reverse racism, there is only lack of discrimination. No one group owns racism.
Now reverse Jim Crow could be a thing, after all there is definitely a ‘white’ saying. “..turn about is fair play!”
So I decide to relax for a while with my lifelong railroad avocation, and here we go again. Help! Is there no refuge anywhere? I’m as fair-minded and non-racist as a white guy can be, but please, get out of my face! I take issue with one of the comments here – Charles, after the 2020 election, we will not be there. I honestly believe that a voting majority of the electorate has had it with this stuff, along with the idea of “government, not God, will take care of you, so just head on down to the mailbox for your check.”
“Government is the enemy of the common people.” Truer words have never been spoken.