Bakersfield’s public bus system has officially fired its CEO just months after hiring him, sticking to a decision made last week.
Tuesday, the Golden Empire Transit District (GET) voted in closed session to remove Michael Tree as CEO.
The backstory: Tree took over the district in late February, succeeding Karen King, who had been with the district for over 15 years.
- Last week GET dismissed Tree without providing a public reason, leading Tree to tell the district that he was wrongfully dismissed and that its firing needed to be done correctly if that was the board’s will, according to a report from the Bakersfield Californian.
- Tree alleged that the board violated the Brown Act because the public was not notified about the special meeting last week.
The big picture: The board voted 3-0 in closed session to confirm Tree’s firing, with board members Charlie Van de Voorde and Cathy Abernathy abstaining.
- Chris James, the Director of Maintenance, has been named the interim CEO.
- GET told KGET that Tree’s firing is a personnel matter and will not be commented on.
State of play: Tree has been let go as GET is gutting its on-demand microtransit system, instead opting to form a partnership with Uber and Lyft for its door-to-door service.
- The district is switching to supporting rideshare vouchers, offering users between $2 and $7 per trip. The door-to-door service will still be offered for passengers who use wheelchairs. People can use up to 40 vouchers per month.
- GET expects the new partnership to save the district $2.8 million annually.
- The board also approved GET’s $102 million budget on Tuesday.
What they’re saying: GET employees were not happy about Tree’s dismissal, using the public comment portion of Tuesday’s meeting to speak out.
- One person said employees and bus drivers are extremely concerned with the board’s decision, saying the board is clearly out of touch with its employees and riders.
- Another asked for the board to resign immediately and reinstate Tree.
- “It is a clear signal that not all is well at Golden Empire Transit,” one employee said.
