What is your reaction to DNC road and rail closures?
In a move that is certain to create major headaches for Boston commuters, security officials have announced that Interstate 93 will be shut down in both directions for all four evenings of the Democratic National Convention in July, and North Station will be closed to all commuter rail and subway service. What is your reaction? Are these security precautions justified, or is the Secret Service going overboard? Do the benefits the convention will bring to the city make the inconveniences worthwhile?
Read the story: North Station, I-93 to be shut down during convention
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Why just boston? The RNC will be right on top of Penn Station, but that's not being shut down... and why the northbound lanes? Those aren't nearly as close to the Fleet Center...
Rob, Natick, MA
What if there was an emergency and an ambulance needed to transport a patient suffereing from a heart attack? Should they be re-routed as well or send to a second class hospital becuase they can't get through to the MGH. This whole idea is ridiculous!!
Suzanne, Somerville
At first the idea of a convention seemed like a huge plus for Boston -it would bring a lot of visitors and money into town. After hearing about the interrupted commute and the recommendation to close local businesses, any economic windfall that the convention would have created has been cancelled out, and then some! Although I have been sitting on the fence up to now, I think this clinches it for me - I'm voting Republican!
Chico, Framingham
Two points, A. Why would terrorists attack Kerry? They want him to be in office. If elected he would be a friend to terrorists and to the countries that harbor them. If anything you might see some Al Quaeda guys out on Causeway Street with Kerry signs. Democrats and the ACLU would rather have all of their silly rights and get blown up on the T one day than be protected against threats. B. This is completely ridiculous any way you slice it. If this much disruption is goign to occur because of the convention, than it shouldn't have been placed here in the first place. Why does Boston always seem to do things reactively instead of proactively? They get a Buffet concert and THEN find out there will be no tailgaiting in the Fenway area. If that's the case, then they should have got a different act and never got Buffet in the first place. Same thing with the convention. They want to screech Boston to a halt. I can't wait till the country sees how the Republican Convention in NYC is a streamlined success and the Democratic Convention here is an utter disaster in Kerry's backyard.
Michael, Somerville, MA
Why spend all that money on a conventions center, this is absurd and it shows how little the politicians in this state care about the people that they represent!
George, Somerville
Heard on the commuter rail inbound to North Station this morning: "This city can't walk and chew gum at the same time." Luckily I will have plenty of vacation time saved up then... Don't forget that North Station will be closed the Friday before as well.
Ann, Andover
The convention will pour millions of dollars into the city. The tax revenue alone should be worth the pain of the commute (or not - as I changed my vacation plans to avoid the whole thing). This is an opportunity to highlight "our fair city" as New York City will be highlighted by the republicans. Embrace it now, and stop the whining - it's unbecoming of a city that led the charge to freedom and liberty.
Lori, Winchester
This is just a conspiracy of Republicans trying to cause pain on Mass commuters and safely leave the blames on Menino and DNC. Going overboard with the so-called "security" is the characteristics of Bush administration and Romney. When it comes to guns, they want the government to be off people's back; when it comes to looting shareholder's money, they wanted the government off the crooks' back until it is too late; however, when it comes to "security", they want the government to control everything, including eavesdropping on legitimate communications between private citizens. At the height of IRA activities, it is public's vigilance of suspicious activities, not the daily barrage of "orange alerts" or draconian security measures like highway closures, that keeps the United Kingdom ciitizens from fear of terrorism. Don't let the Republican's agenda of security in place of liberty fools you!
Eric, Natick
Does Kerry know anything about it? I guess he knows what that is going to bring for everyday commuters and the question is: Does he care about it? If he doesn't, we got a problem then, because if a candidate doesn't care about people before elections, is he going to care for them later, after the elections?
Anderson, Allston
Interesting that Bush's SS (Secret Service) and FBI are doing this in a city that is hosting the DNC while allowing Penn station, which is a larger target, to remain open during his convention. Is he afraid that a few million irate New York commuters are more likely to riot than a few hundred thousand Bostonians?
Charlie, Malden
