Wow,

I don't know why my post was not posted. I don't think I put anything offensive in it.

Wow,

I don't know why my post was not posted. I don't think I put anything offensive in it.

I would not want to be the workers who did nothing - everyone knows who they are and their lives are over due to their callous coldhearted inhuman inaction. But they are still lucky - if that was my daughter they would be dead, no lawsuit needed.

I feel tremendous sympathy for Ms. Besedin, and while I will never be able to understand the tremendous pain she has suffered, I would like to share my own experience as a way of shedding more light on just how complicit the MTA is in the crimes committed on its premises on a daily basis.

A year ago I was attacked at a station in Astoria. The three assailants initially attempted to corner me in one of the walkways leading to the mezzanine of the elevated station, but I was able to successfully break away. I instinctively ran to the mezzanine, knowing that with the token booth attendant as witness the attackers would flee.

I banged on the glass, and shouted to the MTA employee that I had just been attacked and pleaded that he call the police. The attackers looked around the corner and, comforted by the lack of any reaction from the attendant, proceeded into the mezzanine, and in full view of the MTA worker surrounded me and continued the attack. They only fled after literally punching the right lens of my glasses into my eye socket, causing massive bleeding that yes, fountained out of my face and sprayed them, the booth, and the floor of the station. One of the last things I remember seeing was the token booth attendant still sitting in his seat, staring at me as I bled all over the glass that separated me from him.

In some ways I was lucky. The glass just missed my eye, so while I have great scaring beneath my eye, and required ten stitches to put my face back together, I can see as well as I could before the attack. My nose was broken, and is still crooked after having been re-set twice. I still have an obstructed nasal passage, and the bone structure on the right side of my face is damaged beyond repair.

Did I expect the MTA employee to enter the fray and fight off the bad guys? No - that little man would have struggled to swat a fly. What I did expect was for him to get out of his chair, show that he was a witness to the crime, and announce to the attackers that the police was notified and on its way. Instead, his passive behavior served to encourage the attackers by showing them that even the one person whose job it is to care does not give a damn. I could see the realization on their faces as they followed me into the mezzanine that they could proceed with their attack with impunity, and they did. I absolutely blame the token booth attendant for allowing the crime to proceed to the point that it did.

And the kicker of the story: when the police eventually arrived at the station, the man stepped out of the booth, approached the officer who took my statement, and shamelessly asked him what happened because HE had to file a report to the MTA! In a follow-up interview with the investigating officer the attendant stated that he would not be able to identify any of the three attackers, and refused to look at mug shots of suspects.

So we have hundreds, if not thousands, of MTA employees who perform absolutely no function. They certainly no longer sell tokens, since these were phased out. Most also do not sell metrocards, as all stations have machines that perform this task. Now we discover that they are also not reliable as witnesses (never mind providers of security). I say replace them all with video cameras and emergency buttons. We'll save enough money to keep the fares where they are, and end up with a safer system in the bargain.

I feel tremendous sympathy for Ms. Besedin, and while I will never be able to understand the tremendous pain she has suffered, I would like to share my own experience as a way of shedding more light on just how complicit the MTA is in the crimes committed on its premises on a daily basis.

A year ago I was attacked at a station in Astoria. The three assailants initially attempted to corner me in one of the walkways leading to the mezzanine of the elevated station, but I was able to successfully break away. I instinctively ran to the mezzanine, knowing that with the token booth attendant as witness the attackers would flee.

I banged on the glass, and shouted to the MTA employee that I had just been attacked and pleaded that he call the police. The attackers looked around the corner and, comforted by the lack of any reaction from the attendant, proceeded into the mezzanine, and in full view of the MTA worker surrounded me and continued the attack. They only fled after literally punching the right lens of my glasses into my eye socket, causing massive bleeding that yes, fountained out of my face and sprayed them, the booth, and the floor of the station. One of the last things I remember seeing was the token booth attendant still sitting in his seat, staring at me as I bled all over the glass that separated me from him.

In some ways I was lucky. The glass just missed my eye, so while I have great scaring beneath my eye, and required ten stitches to put my face back together, I can see as well as I could before the attack. My nose was broken, and is still crooked after having been re-set twice. I still have an obstructed nasal passage, and the bone structure on the right side of my face is damaged beyond repair.

Did I expect the MTA employee to enter the fray and fight off the bad guys? No - that little man would have struggled to swat a fly. What I did expect was for him to get out of his chair, show that he was a witness to the crime, and announce to the attackers that the police was notified and on its way. Instead, his passive behavior served to encourage the attackers by showing them that even the one person whose job it is to care does not give a damn. I could see the realization on their faces as they followed me into the mezzanine that they could proceed with their attack with impunity, and they did. I absolutely blame the token booth attendant for allowing the crime to proceed to the point that it did.

And the kicker of the story: when the police eventually arrived at the station, the man stepped out of the booth, approached the officer who took my statement, and shamelessly asked him what happened because HE had to file a report to the MTA! In a follow-up interview with the investigating officer the attendant stated that he would not be able to identify any of the three attackers, and refused to look at mug shots of suspects.

So we have hundreds, if not thousands, of MTA employees who perform absolutely no function. They certainly no longer sell tokens, since these were phased out. Most also do not sell metrocards, as all stations have machines that perform this task. Now we discover that they are also not reliable as witnesses (never mind providers of security). I say replace them all with video cameras and emergency buttons. We'll save enough money to keep the fares where they are, and end up with a safer system in the bargain.

Let's be clear as to who is responsible for this terrible act. It is the rapist! He knew what he was doing by attacking someone at that time of morning. He knew that there would be no one to stop him.

I don't know how she can excuse his actions and accuse the subway workers. They acted quickly by calling the police. They did know if the attacker had a gun or accomplices. They are not required, nor are they paid, to put their lives on the line. If someone had personally intervened, maybe she would have been saved and maybe not. Who can say? We all rightly want justice when we are victimized. However, it is not fair to hold one responsible for another's crime.

The judge ruled correctly.

That is complete BS. I can't believe how complacent and cowardly society as a whole has become. To stand there and watch a woman being raped and not having the visceral instinct to intervene even if you may get hurt is foreign to my line of thinking and quite frankly it goes against nature. Western society has become so pussified and pacified to the point of idiots like you actually condoning and rationalizing the cowardice.

This same way of thinking is exactly why the rapist felt totally comfortable doing this in front of others. This way of thinking and behavior actually causes more crime.

Let's not change the story. The workers did not stand there and watch her being raped. They called the police. The rapist did not attack her in front of others. Remember, he pulled her down into the isolated station.

Another scenario: A building is on fire. There are people inside screaming for help. The fire department has been called. There are people watching and waiting for the police. They do not go in because of the obvious danger. Are they to be held responsible if someone inside the building loses their life before the firefighters arrive?

On another note, is it possible for you to express yourself without resorting to vulgar language. The lack of decency in all aspects of our lives (speech & action) contributes to violent behavior. It also does not add any weight to an argument.

The fault lies with the rapist and the rapist alone. Blaming others for this crime is horrible. These are unarmed workers and they are told what to do in a crime situation and they did just that. They didn't know if the man was armed and they do NOT have to risk their lives to stop a crime. It would have been nice if they did... but legally they are not required to and the judge made the right decision.

Thankfully I live in a state that allows us to carry firearms with a permit... and I do. If that had happened here and I saw a woman being raped the only person anyone would need to call is the coroner because that would be one DEAD rapist!

--"If that had happened here and I saw a woman being raped, the only person anyone would need to call is the coroner, because that would be one DEAD rapist!"--

You're absolutely right! This happened solely due to MORONIC gun lows in New York! Our Mayor & Governor are criminals themselves, they have blood of innocent people on their hands because they took away out rights to self defense!

They just desided, that for them it's easier to give you a body bag, than to deal with all that conceal carry licensing for law abiding New Yorkers! Body bag coast less anyway, plus they hypocritically stating that "they took guns from the streets". What a lairs, all they did is they took our guns away alone with our rights to defense ourselves! Crooks have all the guns they need!

And main crook Michael Bloomberg even violated Constitution and wants to be re-elected THIRD time! Like Hugo Chavez. Great!

I really hope Maria is motivated enough to sue the State to overturn existing gun law called "may issue license" into "shall issue license", just like most other states have. I wish Maria will take them to the Supreme Court and help to everybody by changing that moronic law we have in NY!

I'd say her chances to win the case are 90%! That high! It had happened in Texas in 1993, one woman overturn their "carry" law and since then it's all different there... it took just one angry woman to do the job!

God Bless America.

Maria, if you read this, please contact the NRA (National Rifle Association). They will give you much better lawyer for free, and please start law suit against of NY State and City for making impossible to obtain a 'conceal carry pistol permit' for your self defense and thus resulting in this horrible accident!

Please contact NRA, they'll explain you everything. Please just do it for all others who is defenseless and can't get a pistol permit due to draconian New York laws!

There is a blood on Bloomberg's hands for leaving all of us helpless in the front of an attacker! Thanks Michael Bloomberg, hope you'll lose your election! You don't deserve to be a Mayor of the greatest city in the World. Shame on you Mike for what had happened to this young woman.

Two questions... was the rapist caught and was he black?

Five Foot Mohawk took the words right out of my mouth. There are so many ways to act in a way that prevents violence without getting in the middle of it. The MTA has failing policies and systems, that's for sure, but the guys who hid in their booths doing nothing to scare the attacker off are the worst part of this. The MTAs system relies on people doing their best, and these two did not.

I wouldn't have a chance to think twice about it. Call me stupid but my natural instinct doesn't allow me a chance to think twice about things in an emergency. In the last 6 years I have witnessed three women being abused by their boyfriends. Once I told the guy off on the subway and threatened to have the police waiting at the next station. Another time I was in a car and I saw a guy punch his girlfriend in the face near the LIRR train station and I made my friend follow the car while I was on the phone with police so they knew exactly where to find them. Most recently I was walking down the street in my neighborhood and saw my 60 something year old neighbor grab his wife by the hair, throw her to the ground and start kicking her right in front of his house. I stood in front of their house until the police came cursing the guy out.

Call me stupid all you want but I was raised by a mom who was crazy with having me do fire drills and my dad is an EMT. If I'm the only one around who can help the fact that I'm 4foot 11 and female does not stop me.

I know if the shoe was on the other foot I would want someone to help me.

John Koort lives in Flushing, NY with an easily googleable address and phone number, just sayin.

MTA: useless bastards!

This shit makes me furious. Good for her for going public. What kind of coward doesn't interfere in a situation like this?

" Not to worry, Her Lawyer will "Retool" the case and present it back to the court and she'll never have to work another day in her life !"

Deservedly.

Isn't there a law that makes it an automatic felony to assault a transit worker? If that's the case then the transit workers should have to do what is reasonable to prevent assaults on passengers.

If a passenger on the train that came into the station saw what was going on they should have pulled the emergency cord. Do they still have them in trains? That way the conductor at least would have to deal with the situation with a little more attention than he did.

It's not exactly like he witnessed someone taking a dump off the edge of the platform.