...to get a laugh knowing...

I agree with rick341. I had to read the comments on this knowing to get a laugh knowing the general direction they would take.

You guys are biased idiots. Lets hope none of you ever get mugged or raped, and need the assistance of an agent, because there won't be anyone there to report the incident--and if there is-fantastic, they can look on. What if this were your family? Not all of them are lazy and unhelpful. That's like saying all you readers are actually smart. Ridiculous. I would think New Yorkers would be more liberal and open-minded seeing as how this city is made up of immigrants and all races.

the unattended rotating gate didn't work for my unlimited card yesteday (a couple was talking in between the friggin gate and probably made my card go through but the gate thought i went through, so i couldnt swipe again) anyway, i went to another attended entrance and wanted to tell the agent what happened, and she just pointed me to the emergency/accessible entrance gate without me saying more than 5 words (all i said was "my card somehow was not...")

i'm so confused, on one hand, the agent didn't even care about my problem, on the other hand, her indifference saved me time and money.

I think bothering to seek her out, looking like a sad puppy with your Metrocard in hand, was all the proof she needed to figure you probably weren't bullshitting her. Plus, maybe she saw you swipe the first time.

a little over 2 years ago i was attached in the Franklyn C station at 4:45 in the afternoon i was sexually assaulted and beaten. about 1 month before this happened the MTA had decided to cut back and only have a station agent on the other side of the street in an upstairs booth. there were also no cameras in that station. The police never caught the guy (although they were supportive and helpful) i hear about the lay offs and i just worry it will give scum like the guy who attached me a place there they know no one will be there keeping an eye out.

Why do you need a public hearing to fire someone you don't need? Stupid stupid liberal socialists.

Public hearings required to lay off station agents? I gots to get me some of them union jobs!

I'm sure the steps for a layoff are clearly defined in the Union Contract.. the MTA is so inept, they can't even follow procedure.

Yet another thing the MTA can't do properly.

Apparently Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Alice Schlesinger "heard testimony management and union lawyers in her home after the courts shut down Wednesday night" and will be hearing more arguments this morning.

I wonder how many suitcases of cash were presented as evidence that night.

I have to agree with most, station agents are pretty worthless. I actually snapped a picture of an agent in the booth sleeping and SNORING loudly. He didn't even notice that I was right in front of his face with a camera and a flash.

That being said, legal procedure must be followed, but hopefully the ruling does not uphold the union's request.

Station agents can barely be bothered to raise their useless heads when you apparoach them. They ain't keep anyone safe, as they can't even see 90% of the platform and half of the time they're asleep or daydreaming about midget porn. Oh, and if you're getting raped or murdered in front of them, don't worry. They'll call 911 and then go back to reading a magazine.

Actually they don't even call 911. They have to call central office about the incident and THEN central will call 911 losing precious time of course.

If there are steps that must legally be completed, then they must be completed. Really all that's happened here is the judge is saying "you might have a point, let me look in more detail".

You may now unbunch your panties.

Every day station agents prevent dozens of crime just based on their presence/ability to call 911. The next time you, your girlfriend, wife or daughter is alone in a subway station at night, thank a station agent. They've just significantly reduced the chance that you or someone you love will be a victim.

Nope. Not in my experience.

I saw a group of kids beating another kid laying on the ground with a wiffle ball bat. So, I ran to the booth, to which I was told, "how do I know you're not lying? You're white. I can't help you anyway". At that point, I ran up onto the street, found a cop who actually did care, who didn't project any racial issues upon me, and he ran down to the platform to help.

Oh, and the token booths clerks are even more useless than that. Will they make change if the machine doesn't work? No. Will they sell you a metrocard if the machine doesn't work? No. Can they give you accurate directions? No. Can they even tell you if your train is running or under construction? No! (G train, in this particular case).

Actually the subway station I use every night has not had a station agent in it for about a year. I have been alone on that platform many times, and I don't think I am any more or less safe without the station agent there.

Wow, guess the only people to get screwed here is the rider who will have to absorb even higher fares if this actually stands. Gotta love this city, its no wonder nothing can get done and costs always skyrocket.

Jesus Christ on a popcicle stick. You have got to be kidding me. F&@$@ing Unions. They're as worthless as the station agents they're protecting.

Well, at least now when someone is getting raped, someone will be there to watch.