Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties Volume 18 Number 14
www.ocgnews.com OCTOBER 15, 2012
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San Antonio’s transit chief ready to take MARTA’s reins By Valerie J. Morgan
ATLANTA—Keith T. Parker, head of the VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio, is expected to start as the new CEO and general manager of MARTA by early December. Parker will succeed Beverly Scott, who is leaving at the end of the year to head Boston’s transit system. In resigning from his post at VIA on Oct. 9, Parker said he planned to stay on for the next 30 to 60 days, assisting the interim chief, Deputy CEO Jeff Arndt, with the authority’s transition. Parker’s wife, Dawn, a high school principal, will remain in Texas until the end of the school year, officials said. The Parkers’ relocation to Atlanta will put the family closer to relatives, providing them a chance to see them more often. “Although my family and I have
Snapshot of Keith Parker Age: 46 Family: He and his wife, Dawn, have two daughters ages 12 and 9. CEO: Parker will become the fifth CEO in MARTA’s history. MARTA took control and purchased Atlanta’s bus system in 1972. Professional experience: San Antonio’s VIA Metropolitan Transit, CEO, 2009-present; Charlotte Area Transit System, initially served as Chief Operating Officer in 2000 and later hired as CEO from 2007-2009. Parker had served as Charlotte’s assistant city manager before taking on the transit job as CEO. He also served as CEO of the Vancouver, Washington transit system, becoming the youngest transit CEO in the country at age 32 and he served as deputy director of the transit agency in Richmond, VA. Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in urban and regional planning, Virginia Commonwealth University; master’s in business, University of Richmond.
grown very fond of VIA and San Antonio, MARTA is the right choice for us now,” Parker said in a statement. “This move provides the opportunity to get closer to our parents, siblings and many other relatives who reside in the mid-Atlantic
region, while leading one of the most dynamic transit agencies in the nation.” Parker now earns $310,000 a year, but is expected to get a substantial increase once his contract is finalized and he officially takes the reins of the nation’s
ninth-largest transit system here. Scott, who received a five-year contract in 2007, earned more than $370,000 a year in total compensation as MARTA’s CEO last year. The Associated Press reported that Scott received a three-year contract for an annual salary of $220,000 for her new post with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Parker’s move to MARTA is a quantum leap for him. The transit system he is leaving in San Antonio has an annual ridership of 42 million boardings via buses, streetcars and paratransit service and an operating budget of $177 million. In his new role, Parker will oversee a system of buses and rail with an annual ridership of 146 million boardings and a $435 million operating budget.
See Parker, page 4
Georgia health officials zero in on AIDS crisis to promote free treatment By Joshua Smith
ATLANTA – With HIV and AIDS cases on the rise, state health officials are stepping up the war on AIDS. The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has received J. Patrick O’Neal a $2.5 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control to get the word out that free treatment is available to low-income people living with HIV and AIDS. The money will be renewed for three years to address the state’s crisis. “We’re talking about people who may or may not know they’re HIVpositive and for whatever reason are not in care,” said J. Patrick O’Neal, director of DPH’s division of health protection. “They are not getting treatment for any number of reasons: They are afraid to learn the results of their HIV tests; they have received the results but are in denial over them; or they have started treatment and simply dropped out. Linking these patients with treatment is essential to reducing HIV transmission in Georgia.” O’Neal said officials plan to host several highly publicized health fairs throughout the state to raise awareness that residents who meet federal poverty guidelines can get help through Ryan White clinics, which are federally funded. O’Neal said as part of the campaign, the state also plans to hire “patient navigators” to help patients navigate through the maze
See Campaign, page 4 INSIDE
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Photos by Joshua Smith/OCG News
Gwinnett showcases safety at fun-filled festival
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rom helicopters and speedboats to towering ladder fire trucks and a “Safety Wonderland” for kids, Gwinnett County pulled out all the stops recently to show off the many ways first responders work to protect the community. A crowd turned out for the event, which offered a host of free activities, treats and demonstrations. Hosted at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville by Gwinnett’s Police and Fire Departments, the family festival, in its third year, included police demonstrations with officers maneuvering their motorcycles around an obstacle course, firefighters showing people how to escape a fire and Emergency Medical Technicians demonstrating their rescue equipment. The fun-filled day also offered kids the chance to go rock climbing, bungee jumping and play on an open field, while parents had the chance to learn about household safety tips and crime prevention, among the many exhibitors that were on hand.