Metro Callers Get Racist Message

A racist phone message was left on Metro’s phone information line for the public to hear on Martin Luther King Day, city officials say.

The voice message, in a caricature black inflection, said: “We are closed for the Martin Looboo’s holiday birthday bash, and we won’t be in today, so please call back later.”

Metro, the transit and sewage utility serving Seattle and surrounding King County, spent nearly $750,000 over the last three years to improve race and cultural relations inside the agency, KIRO-TV reported.

King County Council member Ron Sims said he was very disappointed in the voice mail message.

“I’m going to find out how that happened,” he said.

No one can get into the utility’s voice mail system without a password, KIRO said.