CEO Julian
Burke and FTA Regional Administrator Leslie Rogers share a moment
during Wednesday’s reception.

Brian
Williams of Mayor James Hahn’s office presents Burke with a
commemorative street sign.

Board
Chairman John Fasana presents Burke with Board
Proclamation.

PHOTOS BY BILL
HEARD

LA County
Officialdom Says ‘Farewell’
to CEO Julian Burke

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here to view larger image or to make your copy of this
photo

“I really am
moved,” Burke told guests at the reception.

FRIDAY EVENTS
Program for Employee Reception Honoring Julian
Burke

By
BILL HEARD, Editor
(Sept. 20, 2001) Los Angeles County
officialdom said farewell to Julian Burke, Wednesday evening, with words
of praise for the accomplishments of his four years as the MTA’s chief
executive officer.

During a reception at the
Music Center that drew about 200 local officials and MTA employees, Burke
– whose last day with the agency is Sept. 30 – was cited as the leading
force in the reinvigoration of the agency’s financial condition and the
restoration of its credibility with federal and state funding
partners.

“It
was a different day when Julian came aboard the MTA,” said Board Chairman
John Fasana, the evening’s MC. “We now have seen a tremendous turnaround
at the MTA – a turnaround that would not have occurred without the steady
leadership that has been provided by Julian Burke.”

Supervisor Yvonne Burke
noted that MTA morale was low and that projects had been stalled by a
recession and other factors before Burke’s arrival. “He has turned this
agency around and has made a tremendous difference for the County of Los
Angeles. He has brought a new spirit to MTA.”

Commendations presented
to Burke

Commendations also were
presented to Burke by officials representing the office of Mayor James
Hahn, the Alameda Corridor, Southern California Association of Governments
and others.

Leslie Rogers, FTA regional
administrator, praised the “professionalism, candor and integrity that
(Burke) brought to all our endeavors….”

Rogers read a commendation
from FTA Administrator Jenna Dorn that said, in part: “Under your
leadership, MTA has made an important, positive contribution to the
Greater Los Angeles community, helping to revitalize neighborhoods and
provide access and opportunity to people throughout the area.“

In
response, Burke said he was moved by the speakers’ remarks.

“As
the end of my tenure approaches, I am overwhelmed – almost with grief,” he
said. “However, that feeling should give way to my understanding that
public service is a transient gift that Americans bestow generously on
people. And sometimes even unexpectedly. This was a gift to me.”

Credited his staff and
Board

The
CEO also credited the MTA staff and members of the Board with much of the
success of his administration.

“While I have worked hard at
this job, I didn’t work alone,” he said. “I could never have done this job
without the support and intelligence and effort of so many colleagues
within the MTA. And without the support and understanding of the Board
that I’ve had all along this period….”

On Thursday, Burke was back in the office and was
participating in the Executive Management Committee’s deliberations. An
employee-only reception for the CEO is scheduled from 9 until 11 a.m. on
the Plaza outside MTA Headquarters. A commemorative program will begin at
10 a.m.

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