If you’re going to play the game properly, you’d better know every rule. – Barbara Jordan
Wilmer Leon Discusses America’s Broke Priorities See Page 25 •
C e l e b r a t i n g 4 7 Ye a r s o f S e r v i c e
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Serving More Than 50,000 African American Readers Throughout The Metropolitan Area / Vol. 47, No. 38 July 12 - July 18, 2012
Feeling
hot! hot! hot! Jay Rock, a Southeast resident, attempts to cool off by dousing his head with a cold bottle of water. Temperatures have consistently stayed in the triple digits and the oppressive heat has blanketed the region. /Photo by Shevry Lassiter
Extreme Heat Cited as Cause of Metro Derailment By Barrington M. Salmon WI Staff Writer Last Friday’s derailment of a Green Line train near West Hyattsville left Tia Haywood very nervous about having to take the train. Haywood, a Hyattsville resident works in downtown D.C. and takes the
train to and from work because it’s cost-effective. But she said if there were any other way to get to work she would. She is not alone. Accidents of the type that occurred last week remind commuters all too well of the “occupational hazard” of riding trains. Carole Campbell, a 50-plus-
year-old accountant who lives in Silver Spring, said the accident is an unpleasant reminder of the dangers of riding the train. “Most times when I’m on the train, I don’t think about anything happening to the train,” said Campbell. “I’m so preoccupied reading and people watching my mind doesn’t go in the
direction of being harmed. Usually, I’m more concerned with people doing something to me or someone getting into a fight rather than derailment.” Metro Media Relations Manager Caroline L. Lukas said it’s unfortunate that Haywood and other passengers are fearful about riding Metro.
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“Our goal is to provide safe and reliable service. We strive to achieve good standards at Metro,” she said. The 33-year-old train system has been beset by myriad problems. The crash occurred three
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