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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I think it's necessary yet inconvenient to commuters. We as a nation really have to take more precautions to guard against terrorist threats. A lot of people will be gathered at this event, and would make a big target for terrorists. I say, DEAL, it's not a permanent situation.
r0z, Jamaica Plain
This is just silly. 1. You can't really hijack a train. You can hijack a bus and ram it right into the fleet center. 2. The Leverett Connector will not be closed, and that runs pretty close to the fleet center too.
Terry, Somerville, MA
The real purpose of these extreme security measures is to prevent opposition groups from arriving and having a visible presence. As has been evident, both the Dems and Republicans are prey to leftist movements that are sweeping through the country. With help form a compliant media corps, protestors and activists are finding little support and are thus growing more relevant. Shutting down commuter rail access and auto access to the FleetCenter is a purposeful step in shutting down opposition to the neo-liberal agenda which is not much different thatn moderate conservative ideals. NAFTA, WTO, the War on Terror, the Patriot Act, FCC wholesale of our airwaves, etc, are all examples of the absence of alternative platforms. The DNC should be doing everything it can to secure its place in American history as the lame duck of the 21st Century. Let us in!!!!!!
Shawn, Lowell, MA
Why wouldn't the Dems change forums to the new convention center? They say it doesn't meet the convention needs, but they are still spending millions to provide major design changes to the Fleet center and then change it back. Why must we inconvenience commuters (the working men and women that the Dems proclaim they to fight for) and tourists? Are they looking out for us now, or their own self-serving agenda? Thank God we have a Governor that thinks about the people and actually has some common sense. This is the last straw for me. Dems need to watch out for re-election after this one. Romney 08!
Craig, Duxbury, MA
absolutely a horrible idea,why should the working people have to suffer for a few"born with a silver spoon in their mouth" demorats.in case nobody noticed in the democratic party,Mass. holds the record for loss of jobs,why force the issue further by making it almost impossible for commuters.as for revenue gains,WHERE?,oh yeah,almost forgot about the tuckies to meninno and finneran,is there anything left for the city??
KB, CARVER,MA
Why shut down a city for drunken, political liars, who steal your money ? Poor Teddy can't keep a bar open till 4 AM. with just his shirt on. I am a independent who wants less goverment rule & 15% flat tax. Use the money that is being spent on the convention, for education and public transportation. What a country!
john, westboro
I commute from Haverhill to Boston 5 days a week. I'd love to know how I'm supposed to get to work when North Station will be closed, given that that is where I get on and off the train.
Madelaine, Haverhill
The economic and inconvience costs to the Boston Metro area can not be justified when compared to the minimal prestigue advantges generated by the Democratic Convention. The city and state, along with local private companies, primarily real estate developers, are already being asked to foot much of the bill for the convention. Why, on top of this should ordinary citizens, who happen to travel through North Station and I-93 be asked to pay the extra time and economic costs of these shut down? One friend, who uses commuter rail to travel to work, may choose to forgo employment for the entire week rather than dealing with the lengthy delays. Let us also remember that the South Station Tunnel will also be closed for reconstruction during this entire period. I suggest that the Secret Service and our public officials work harder to develop solutions for security which permit these vital modes of transportation to remain open during the Convention. Screen rail passengers if necessary as is done at airports. Take a lesson from New York. Penn Station, which lies under Madison Square Garden, will be fully operational during the Republican Convention. Let I-93 remain open as well. Employ better intelligence, and only close these facility as a measure of last resort. Why not
peter, boston,ma
This is going to be a good thing for Boston how? I have heard some pols say just take the week off during the convention. Thats a good idea. Here are a couple more- 1. Don't pay your taxes for those 7 days, since they are suggesting us to close for a week we don't have to pay them for the week. 2. Have every one who works in the city stay home. That would include bartenders, maids, cooks, waiters, waiteress, or anyone else. That way the delegates don't have to worry about any traffic. 3. Invite the republicans to come to Boston too. Why should we mess up two cities. We already are closing down Boston, while we are at it two weeks are only 7 days more than one week. 4. Move to another place where they don't have this crazy idea that they can shut an entire city down for a week long party givwen for people from other places.
Dave, West Roxbury
We have been put through enough with the construction of the "Big Pig". Now that it is almost complete, all Bostonians now must be inconvenienced for the DNC. What is the purpose anyway? Kerry has the nomination, and I see no need to inconvenience an entire city to 'rubber stamp' his nomination. We have spent a fortune on a convention center, but I guess the Dems that pushed for it feel it is not good enough. Oh well, another waster of taxpayer money. Let's just shut down the entire city during the convention - no businesses are allowed to operate at all. or at least jack up the prices on everything for the out-of-towners.
SAF, Quincy
