Persons to be notified: Joseph Alonzo

Omozele Biggins Training & Instruction Assistant Superintendent

Yves Michael C. Valdez Human Resource Analyst

Kimberly W. Ackerman Director of Human Resources

CSC Report - Joseph Alonzo July 22, 2020

2.13 Discipline Rule 2.13.1 – Violation of any of the following rules will be sufficient cause for charges for disciplinary action involving suspension or, if appropriate, dismissal.

F. Discourteous treatment of the public or other employees of the SF MUNI Railway;G. Fighting;

2.21 Safety Rule 2.21.15 – Employees must be careful to avoid any act or situation that could cause injury to themselves or others. Rule 2.21.16 – Employees must protect their own personal safety, the safety of others, and the safety of equipment and property

SFMTA New Operator’s Guide, Pre-Trip Inspection, Air Break Test and Skills Course and the Smith System (Exhibit 2)

Background: Joseph Alonzo was appointed on September 10, 2018 as a 9163 Transit Operator and was released from his permanent probationary position on September 13, 2018 for poor attitude and confrontational with training staff. (Exhibit 3)

The following restrictions were placed on his probationary release and future employability with the SFMTA: 1. No future employment with SFMTA that requires a B or BP license, and 2. To cancel any current examination and eligibility in class 9163 Transit Operator. The SFMTA resolved the matter administratively and rescinded the future employment restrictions on June 12, 2019. (Exhibit 4)

ALONZO was rehired on February 24, 2020 and he was again released from his position on March 24, 2020 due to his poor performance on the transit operator skills training and his unprofessional interactions with peers and staff. (Exhibit 5) During ALONZO’s short time with SFMTA, he was responsible for a series of avoidable accidents..

On February 28, ALONZO failed his Maneuver Skills training, and earned a score of 2 out of a possible 80 points.

In March 2020, ALONZO was involved in three avoidable accidents with fixed objects: 1. On March 10, 2020, ALONZO made contact with a stationary, parked vehicle.2. On March 18, 2020, ALONZO made contact with the curb.3. On March 19, 2020, ALONZO made contact with mirror against a fixed object.

After the March 10, 2020 incident, the daily operation training evaluation by transit operators/trainers showed that ALONZO is unsuited to be an SFMTA transit operator. (Exhibit 6)

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CSC Report - Joseph Alonzo July 22, 2020

ALONZO was coached on the proper way to use the mirror and encroach on the lane. ALONZO was provided clear commands including ”stop”, which ALONZO failed to follow and sideswiped a parked vehicle. ALONZO had no reaction for his actions. ALONZO displayed negligent behavior when he left the coach in “drive” instead of placing the gear on park or neutral when he was relieved from driving.

ALONZO exhibited poor judgment, was unable to take and follow instructions, and gave a negative attitude when being coached on how to appropriately and safely handle the bus. ALONZO was combative with other trainees when there was a struggle to secure the bus.

ALONZO was unable to understand and recognize hazardous conditions. During his training, he squeezed the bus in small lanes and drifted to the right side of the lane more than 4 times during a 45-minute run.

Analysis and Recommendation: Our SFMTA instructors and transit operators coached, encouraged, and gave feedback to ALONZO. His response to the feedback was dismissive, rude and he consistently had a negative attitude. He would undermine authority by not listening to instructions, not following directions and being insensitive to his fellow trainees. These patterns of negative behaviors are unacceptable especially when dealing with the public all day.

The Agency rescinded the restrictions that would make ALONZO eligible to become a transit operator in 2019. He was given a second opportunity to become a Transit Operator. During his second tenure with SFMTA his behavior went unchanged. He still exhibited a poor attitude, and the inability to work with others. He also exhibited poor driving ability with three incidents in March 2020.

After reviewing ALONZO’s Daily Operation Training Evaluations and the recommendation from the training staff, he would not be a successful candidate in any position, which requires a commercial license with SFMTA.

Based on the foregoing, the SFMTA recommends that the Civil Service Commission approve ALONZO’s future employability restrictions. These restrictions are standard and applied consistently in similar situations.

• No future employability with the SFMTA that requires a Class B or BPDriver’s License

• Cancel any current examination and eligibility in class 9163 TransitOperator

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CSC Report - Joseph Alonzo July 22, 2020

Attachments: • CSC letters dated May 13, 2020 – Register No: 0103-20-8• Memorandum of SFMTA to CSC• Exhibit 1: SFMTA Railway Rules and Instructions Handbook………..pp. 5-11 • Exhibit 2: SFMTA New Operator’s Guide, Pre-Trip Inspection, Air Break Test and

Skills Course and the Smith System……………………………………..pp. 12-30 • Exhibit 3: Alonzo’s Probationary Release letter………………………..pp. 31-32 • Exhibit 4: Appeal Form and Letter from CSC to Alonzo

Restriction Rescission by SFMTA and CSC Response CSC Letter regarding Rescission and Close of Case………pp. 33-38

• Exhibit 5: “Fresh of the Boat” Statements from Instructors……………pp. 39-41 • Exhibit 6: Avoidable Collision on March 10, 2020

Trainers’ Statements…………………………………………..pp. 42-60

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Exhibit 1

5

H. Parking Control Officers (when inuniform);

I. Guide, Signal, and Service animals;

J. Municipal Railway Employees;

K. Municipal Railway Dependents;

L. Sisters of Charity;

M. Special Service.

2.20 Arrests

full

2.20.1 An employee shall not request the arrest of any person, unless authorized by an Inspector or proper authority, except when employee is robbed, assaulted or in immediate personal danger.

2.20.2 If an arrest is made, immediately report it to OCC. An Accident Report must be made during, or immediately following completion of tour of duty, giving name and star number of arresting officer, and names and addresses of witnesses and person( s) arrested.

2.21 Safety

2.21.1 Operator shall never operate a MUNI vehicle at a speed that is greater than that which is reasonable or prudent, and in no event at a speed that would endanger the safety of persons or property.

2.21.2 While vehicles are in motion, operators are to devote his/her attention to pedestrians, tracks, traffic, and signals.

2.21.3 Operators, when approaching intersections where right or left turns are to be made, must operate slowly and ensure the right or left signal is activated one hundred feet before commencing the turn and remain in continuous operation while completing the turn.

2-14

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Skills Course Composition

• The course is composed of 1maneuvers similar tothe California Department of Motor VehiclesCommercial Driver Skills and the American PublicTransportation Association International RoadeoCommittee Skills

• There are a total of 8 maneuvers; 4 DMV Type & 4SFMTA/APTA

• CA�PMV Pre-Trip Inspection & Br:ake Test15