SACRAMENTO – Sen. Steve Glazer on Friday applauded Governor Gavin Newsom's appointment of Harriet Richardson as the first Inspector General for BART, a position created to give the agency’s board and the public an independent set of eyes and ears to hold managers accountable for the safe, clean and efficient operation of the transit system.

Glazer authored the amendment creating the Inspector General’s post as part of SB 595 (Beall) in 2017, which authorized local officials to seek an increase in tolls on Bay Area bridges to pay for road and bridge repairs and transit projects. The voters created the Inspector General when they approved the toll increase last year.

The position was modeled after similar posts in other transit agencies around the country, including Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C.

“I believe that Harriet Richardson has the experience, integrity and independence to thoughtfully and thoroughly examine the workings of BART,” Glazer said. “This transportation system is critical to the Bay Area and we will all benefit from her transparent oversight of the safety, cleanliness, financial responsibility and efficiency of this agency.” 

Richardson was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom after BART nominated three candidates, as the law required.  She will serve a four-year term and can be removed, if approved by the Governor, only if either of the following occur:

• A two-thirds majority of the members of the board votes for removal;
• The Inspector General breaks a federal or state law or violates ethical rules regarding the acceptance of gifts or contributions.