Let Robert Moore Speak

Dear Mayor Kevin Foy

For the duration of his ten years of employment with Chapel Hill Transit System, bus driver Robert Moore has consistently used the vehicles intercom system to speak to the passengers on his various routes. These verbal exchanges involve Mr. Moore wishing riders well as they board the bus, exit the bus, and inspiring them with positive, self-affirming encouragement during the actual commute. Some of the addresses take on a call and response format between Mr. Moore and the passengers, for those who wish to participate. There is no coercion used on passengers who do not wish to speak, nor are there consequences of any kind for those who choose not to participate.

Earlier this year, a complaint made by a passenger to the Chapel Hill Transit Department resulted in Mr. Moores superiors prohibiting him from using the intercom to speak to his passengers as made customary by his decade-long tradition. We, the undersigned, represent the majority of taxpaying consumers of the Chapel Hill Transit System (specifically the routes driven by Robert Moore), and find this change of affairs thoroughly unacceptable.

Given that:
- Mr. Moores commentary is uplifting and non-incendiary in nature, and
- is popularly supported by the vast majority of his passengers, and
- interacting with his passengers allows Mr. Moore to take pride in and enjoy his job, and
- such a public display of job satisfaction is rare and should be encouraged, not discouraged, and
- an occasional complaint is unavoidable, since not everyone can be fully satisfied,

We strongly request that Robert Moore be granted the same full intercom freedom he (and we) enjoyed before the complaint was lodged, and executive action taken.