No heroes as Jim Watson, Alex Cullen bicker over transit records

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson chirped at former transit chair Alex Cullen, launching a brief but heated Twitter war over which politician cost taxpayers more money.

Twitter spat over transit track record bottoms out with 70s TV show put-down

CBC News Posted: May 11, 2016 12:00 PM EDT | Last Updated: May 11, 2016

Ottawa's mayor was in a feisty mood Tuesday evening, going after the city's former transit chair Alex Cullen over his track record on bus fares and labour relations.

Cullen, a former city councillor and mayoral candidate, chaired Ottawa's transit committee now the transit commissionthrough the bitter bus strike that dragged on formore than 50 days in the winter of 2008-09.

The online spat began when current transit commission chairStephen Blais dredged up that event, as well asOC Transpo fare hikes that occurred during Cullen's tenure,in aTwitter rant.

You know @EvanLSolomon @Alex_S_Cullen chaired transit commission that raised fares 7.5% a year for 3 years straight 13% for express
—@StephenBlais

Oh and @EvanLSolomon Mr. @Alex_S_Cullen was transit chairman during worst bus strike in #ottcity history
—@StephenBlais

A few hours later, the mayor decided to pile on.

My old colleague Alex Cullen got a clubbing by @StephenBlais on Alex's tenure as OC Transpo Chair - longest strike; biggest fare hikes!
—@JimWatsonOttawa

The former councillor defended his reputation, and aimed the criticism right back at Watson.

@JimWatsonOttawa FYI: Mayor OBrien led City on bus strike (not me); I didnt vote for every bus fare hike. Yr record: hikes yearly, abve infl
—@Alex_S_Cullen

The mayor then put on his trolling hat.

@Alex_S_Cullen you must remember Sgt. Schultz from hogan's heroes and his famous line "I know nothing!" you were chair during strike!!
—@JimWatsonOttawa

Alex Cullen failed in his bid to return to city council in the 2014 municipal election. (CBC)

Cullen again took the bait, but stuck to a straightforward defence.

@JimWatsonOttawa Sure I was Transit Chair, but strike strategy was Mayor OBrien's. You milked that well in 2010. But these 6 yrs are yours.
—@Alex_S_Cullen

The mayor was adamant on having the last word, though.

@Alex_S_Cullen and of course "your" plan didn't account for inflation(oops!) and we had to revamp plan and depth to bring it in on budget!
—@JimWatsonOttawa

@Alex_S_Cullen and someone also reminded me you were the cheerleader to kill the first lrt plan that cost us tens of millions and years!!
—@JimWatsonOttawa

That's when Cullen decided to take the high road on light rail.

@JimWatsonOttawa Yup. Original NS plan had tracks running thru downtown, not under. You are implementing better plan 2 elections later.
—@Alex_S_Cullen

When it comes to fare hikes, it's hard to lay the blame on any one politician.

The cost to ride the bus, if you pay cash, will soon be $3.65. It was $3.00 in 2006. (Trevor Pritchard/CBC Ottawa)

In 2006, a regular OC Transpoadult fare was $3.00. A decade later, that will jump to $3.65.

Ottawa transit strike costing billions for businesses, residents

That's a 25 per cent fareincrease over the last decade.Watson has been mayor for six of those years. Coun. Diane Deans chaired the transit commission for four years. Blaistook over after the 2014 election.

So which politician is to blame for rising transit fares?There's no clear answer. And as with most Twitter battles, this one produced no heroes.

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