Adam Giambrone and The SubWay (Mr. TTC himself)
I met with Adam, the chair of the TTC, on April 2, 2009 close to the 55th anniversary of the opening of the subway system (March 30, 1954).
I presented him with a copy of The SubWay and he glanced through it while we chatted.
He asked about the book’s genesis, and I told him it came about because I’ve always found riding the underground somewhat magical (as a kid) and then later, nightmarishly mystical and harsh (as a daily commuter).
For all the problems with the current system, Adam maintains a buoyancy and even good humour. He pulled out an old newspaper article that documented the same issues that face the TTC today, lack of funding and equipment breakdowns.
The more things change etc.
Adam has an Obama-like quality, almost unflappable, except for his recent tiff with his fellow city councillor Cesar Palacio, in which he sent an e-mail telling him to "stop messing" with matters in his ward or "there will be problems". Just a territorial skirmish in the sand box; in many ways he’s still just a kid, quite young to balance all that responsibility.
Giambrone’s a pragmatist; less a visionary like the early developers of the TTC. Still, I think the system is in good hands because he so obviously cares.
