Gothamist: MTA Moving Slowly on Security?

honey

Thu, 24 Mar 2005 15:14:03 -0500

get a fu#king decent PA system in every station. that may not prevent an attack, but as anyone who read 102 minutes knows, inadequate communication in the aftermath of an attack can really bring up the death toll. a working PA system, with back ups located in secure areas, could save many lives when an attack occurs.

dirtgirl

Thu, 24 Mar 2005 14:39:55 -0500

S.D. - no contract yet. same goes for fire & teachers unions. and to gothamist, you definitely have john liu pegged!

S.D.

Thu, 24 Mar 2005 13:28:26 -0500

Maybe they thought the Photo-Ban was a good start? Or not... Playing Devils advocate: I wonder what steps they Could actually take to improve security? Short of maning every platform with Police, what can be done (last week's Rape of a blind woman tragically demonstrated that video Camera's Aren't nearly enough.) Slightly off topic, Do the Police actually have a contract with the City yet?

danny

Thu, 24 Mar 2005 13:08:16 -0500

**Paying cops more in overtime to watch the platform wont happen. **token booth clerks protect civilians from crime.(so dont take them out of commission) ** **cameras and all equipment wont happen, MTA wont pay up PLAIN AND SIMPLE: A terrorist attack will happen and we are vunerable. Its only a matter of time. P.S. Brian you was wandering in the tracks? for what? God you must have no life....

BrianVan

Thu, 24 Mar 2005 12:45:53 -0500

I don't want to take easy potshots at incompetent gov't agencies, so I'll just express my opinion on what I think would be a good course of action - likely not to be followed, but regardless: * The MTA should focus their efforts on facility security. If necessary, eliminate token booths and clerks to free up resources for equipment survelliance and protective measures. The subway is ridiculously vulnerable to sabotage - if an idiot like me can wander at any time of night onto the tracks unseen (and, at times, I have explored a bit), imagine what a motivated terrorist can do. * The NYPD should patrol platforms more often not only for citizen safety, but as a first line of survelliance defense for equipment and facilities. In other words, let the MTA watch the tracks, let the cops watch the platforms. If they think a token clerk is going to be able to stop a murder or a terrorist attack, they're insane - they need better access restrictions and survelliance measures beyond that, whether they need a booth clerk or not.

Captain Midnight

Thu, 24 Mar 2005 12:35:27 -0500

Why would the MTA want to implement actual security when they'd much rather be harassing people taking snapshots in the subway?