Ellen Perlman was a GOVERNING staff writer and technology columnist.
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Tasty. But Necessary?
I'm pretty certain that people who are sensitive to the needs of strangers on public transit don't do their good deeds with the hope of winning a donut.
"Wha..huh'?" you say.
Well, Metropolitan Boston Transit Authority personnel were armed on Tuesday with $2 gift cards to Dunkin' Donuts to pass out as rewards to those caught in the act of kindness on buses, subways and commuter rail.
A Boston Globe story says that the agency believes that handing out $500 in gift cards will improve the conduct of transit employees and riders. My guess is that people who, for instance, give up their seats to disabled people and pregnant women don't do it so they can win a free cup of coffee. The psychological rewards are enough. Meanwhile, I'm curious what part of their jobs those 25 transit employees weren't doing all day while they were handing out donut cards to people who were already doing the right thing.
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Written and compiled by staff writers and editors, GOVERNING View is an on-the-ground, and sometimes behind-the-scenes, look at the topics we're covering in print and online. From notes on what's up in statehouses, county courthouses and city halls, to encounters with people, places and things, GOVERNING View is a window into the side of state and local government you don't always see.
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