U.S. Deputy Transportation Secretary Mort Downey met with
city, state and ACOG officials to say that the federal government
is "concerned by reports of disarray in the transport system" and
is ready to help. Still, Doug Monroe of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION
notes "problems continued to crop up." MARTA acknowledged some
of the 1,480 buses sent to ACOG were not roadworthy. The city of
Houston sent 55 buses that "had been mothballed." Driver
confusion "continued to make spectators late" and "hundreds of
military personnel imported to drive buses are not getting
assignments" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 7/25). Downey, "They clearly
will have a major challenge over the weekend" (CHARLOTTE
OBSERVER, 7/25). One source close to ACOG tells the Toronto
GLOBE & MAIL that the problems are "due mainly to organizers'
failure to invest in a mainframe computer to track" the bus fleet
(Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 7/25). Some drivers have quit,
"complaining of long hours, inadequate pay and poor organization"
(Bill Sullivan, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/25). In Houston, columnist
Fran Blinebury writes, "The only things missing are the dueling
banjos from 'Deliverance'" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/25).
