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TRAFFIC.COM

Mike Haake

Who is he?
 
I'll say something positive. Metro was usually good to me; there for me when I needed time off at the birth of children, gave me the chance to help at the startup of the Metro Source wire service. It was a shame to see all the layoffs and downsizing at the Houston office last year. I was there at the Houston startup of Traffic.com too and working for Winder was fun.
 
I want to clear the air on one aspect of this discussion, as I heard from THE decision-maker today. The change from Traffic.com to Metro by Citadel was strictly a business decision. I can accept that. As one can imagine, there were plenty of rumors about what happened and why, and, now taking a friend and former top person in charge's word as the truth, the change was indeed nothing more than just that, a business decision. It never hurts to ask, and I didn't want to carry misplaced ill feelings around the rest of my life when I would think back on this situation. I'm not happy about the whole deal, of course, and I'm still job hunting, but at least I know why things transpired as they did. Still, it was a good run of six years, and I only hope I'm able to find something to replace it with that's as worthy of my time.
 
Do you have a feeling this post might go on forever ... or longer?
 
Longer. TC in Metro Houston came forward with stuff and some of it is credible,the other well that remains questionable? The Metro in Dallas? Only one employee there is worth a damn, and she knows who she is. The other? Well if you work there wear kevlar on the backside.
The other TC of traffic piulse ,what has been said ,has been said. One day he might wake up and regret his actions among others . Thats up to him and his conscience.
 
To Mike H. -

As I said, I bear no ill will. My recollection on the reason given for my termination by you differs (allegations of being late was the reason I was given), but no matter. Over my time with Metro, I did indeed conduct band business from time to time and I look back on that now as a mistake. A mistake, for what it's worth, I never made again after I moved to Dallas.

With regard to warnings, I have to respectfully disagree with your recollection. You took over Metro Houston on Thursday, September 1st, 1994. I was fired on Wednesday the 14th. We spoke maybe three or four times during that period and really not more that to say "hi". Indeed, the longest conversation we had was the day you fired me. I submit that you didn't have any time to have any conversation with me to issue any warnings about anything. Had I received such a warning, I would like to think that even back then I would have obeyed, but I wasn't given that chance.

As far as all the others that I mentioned in past posts, their employ was indeed terminated - on your watch. I cannot speak with any first-hand knowledge of why each was let go - that was between you and them.

But Gary was very vocal with me with regard to his firing and that he was filing a wrongful termination law suit. Whether or not he did, I don't know. Neal Rohrig also had an opinion with regard to his termination - but you and I both know how Neal can be, so...

However, when I interviewed at Shadow in Houston in 1996, it was John Winder who told me why David S. brought you down from St. Louis and what your mission was - to cut the perceived 'fat' out of Metro Houston operations. If this is not true, blame Winder not me, this is what he told me and I wouldn't know why - 2 years after the fact - he'd have any reason to lie to me. I would also submit that whether or not that was your mission, it's what happened, unless the people you replaced us with worked for the same money or were paid more, and that's just fiscally irresponsible on it's face, given your position.

In this, evidently you succeeded admirably for here we are 15 years later and you're still at Metro and I'm unemployed. From the corporate bean counting point of view, you have been a success. And, as I said in a previous post, if you hadn't done what you did, YOU would have been fired ultimately just like Ken Charles and Eric Burch, your predecessors.

Finally, firing people and keeping costs low, making yourself look good to the other corporate heads, is what people in your position do. And when you fire people, you're going to anger and alienate some, it goes with the territory - you have nothing to apologize for - not that you were apologizing, of course.

As far as Metro paying $11 and hour is concerned, at the moment I would kill for $11 an hour in this economy. So again, if that's what Metro is paying these days that's nothing to be ashamed of.

Anyway, again, no ill will, maybe I just never mastered the art of working and playing well with others...

Cheers!
CR Big Band
 
crbigband said:
As far as Metro paying $11 and hour is concerned, at the moment I would kill for $11 an hour in this economy. So again, if that's what Metro is paying these days that's nothing to be ashamed of.
Nah, $11 per hour is what they offer to those whose appearance they don't approve of.
 
Aint that the truth. Over weight folks in radio???? no say it aint so.
 
MikeShannon914 said:
crbigband said:
As far as Metro paying $11 and hour is concerned, at the moment I would kill for $11 an hour in this economy. So again, if that's what Metro is paying these days that's nothing to be ashamed of.
Nah, $11 per hour is what they offer to those whose appearance they don't approve of.

Then I would get $8
 
City of Angels

Motorcyclist killed on 405 Fwy this morning
Man arrested after allegedly urinating on Redondo Beach police car
High-speed chase through South Bay ends in death


Just another traffic day in LA ...
 
OK nice try from inside the office. Nancy is probably resigning due to the no Boss shall have a relkative on staff to oversee. Her daughter is the staff member.
 
radiofan40 said:
So the position is open? Rather resign supervisor position than daughter find another job??

Well, what happened?
 
MikeShannon914 said:
Thanks for the well wishes and words of support. This really sucks. But I really can't elaborate much at this time. There's still some unfinished business and some good folks that might be hurt or compromised at this point in the game. Suffice it to say for now that a change in traffic vendors was made, some agree that it was perhaps ill-thought and impulsive, but only time will tell if it all works out. Meanwhile, my company was very generous and took care of everyone involved, commeasurate with their years of service. Switching companies for me would have involved a 33% paycut, so that was a poor option for nearly everyone. So we'll join the rest of the radio folks that are on the beach, and seek out something more stable and financially advantageous, which will likely be outside of the industry. But contrary to the post that started this thread, Traffic.com was one of the best jobs I ever had, and was six years of my life well spent. It remains a classy operation, and had some of radio's best pass through its doors during the time I was there. If things change in the future, I'd go back in a heartbeat. There was a sense of family and teamwork that you'd be hard pressed to find elsewhere in radio today. THAT'S the part I'll miss the most.

Gee wiz. I haven't read the posts in a month or so. So I come back to learn that you're unemployed and Bud's been in a traffic accident. Darned!
 
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