May 12, 2004
Subways Not Part of GOP Plan in NYC
You know what, GOP, Gothamist doesn't care if you refuse to use our subways. Just because the subways would be scads faster than the bus shuttles you're proposing for your delegates, from their hotels to Madison Square Garden during the Republican National Convention, it doesn't mean speed is important. Gothamist is happy to have the hot, sweaty, stinky August subways left to us and the thousand other people already in the subway car.
Former Mayor Ed Koch, volunteer coordinator for the convention, says the GOP can do whatever they want, "We'd never tell them no. Whatever's best for them, as they see it. We're here to serve them. I think lots of people would use the subways anyway, because it's the quickest way to get around." And for the record, it seems the Democrats had shuttles when their convention was here and will likely have shuttles in Boston.
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Isn't the GOP already doing whatever they want?
seems like a major tactical error. protestors wouldn't be likely to try and block subway trains, but they can certainly make a grand mess of traffic. you don't even need a group -- hey, why not just 'stall' your old car on 8th avenue?
This shouldn't be surprising. First the cruise ship debacle and now this. It's clear that the Republicans don't want to come to New York. They only want the symbolism of using Ground Zero as a backdrop to their convention.
Wanna bet that the shuttles will be modified Hummers?
Busses certainly make the most sense. Most of the delegates will be traveling in groups by states. For example, the California delegates all stay at one hotel and travel together to and from the convention floor. Trying to coordinate hundreds of Californians on the subway would be a huge headache, but a couple of busses will easily do the trick, even if it takes them a bit longer in traffic. Also, I haven't seen the housing list yet, but some of the hotels are probably crosstown from MSG, making it difficult to "take the subway" when there isn't one.
As much as I hate to burst the Republicans-as-evil bubble, no conventioneer takes public transportation in ANY city. Here in Chicago, there's a direct rail link from downtown to McCormick Place, the major convention center, but most conventioneers will cab it or take a bus provided for them. Maybe it has something to do with fearing some homeless dude is going to hit them up for money, but it has more to do with out-of-towners being unfamiliar with (and intimidated by) the terrain, and a fear of the convention planner of relying on a city's oft-erratic public transportation system as the main way to get people where they need to be at the time they need to be there.
there goes my plan to push unsuspecting republicans onto the tracks and watch gleefully as their bodies are mangled under the wheels of oncoming trains, leaving their stinking carcasses to be eaten by rats and roaches... oh well, back to the drawing board.
Oh, you kvetching Newyawkas! At least you'll still have your subways! Here in Boston, they're going to shut down the subways that run near the Democratic convention - along with the major north-south highway through the city (some businesses up here are just forcing their workers to take the week off).