What is your reaction to DNC road and rail closures?

3/31/2004

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?

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In my opinion, if I was a group charged with electing a president, I'd be against anything that would show negative light on our process by inconveniencing potential voters. I mean really ! Isn't there a better way ?

Mike, Stoughton

I have taken the week off as vacation. I don't know what I'll be doing, but I certainly won't be coming into Boston. After having to deal with the mess of the Patriots rally after winning the Superbowl, I refuse to deal with this new way that politicians have come up with to make sure that commuting from the north is hell on all of us.

Mary, Georgetown

Thanks to the Dems for their short-sighted and selfish plan to protect themselves and in the process ADVERTISE the Fleet Center and the Central Artery as 2 huge and terrorist targets for Al Qaeda to hit someday when the big fat mumbling Meninos of the world won't be drinking bourbon and smoking cigars. If I were Paul Pierce (and the Celtics) or Joe Thornton (and the Bruins), would I feel great about playing in the Fleet? Isn't the purpose of terrorism to scare the average citizen into changing their way of life? It is not about assassination - particularly someone the terrorists will love like Kerry and Kennedy. I hope this makes Massachusetts voters remember that this is what the liberal democratic political machine gets you. They only profess to care about the little guy. This inconveniences EVERY hard-working person in the state that doesn't have the luxury of taking vacation this week. It is infuriating. Everyone in Boston is inconveniences so that the networks have good sightlines for their TV broadcast. Noone is going to be watching this propaganda fest except for Kerry's acceptance speech, so why not just hold THAT in the Fleet Center.

Scott, Boston

Are you kidding? Its taken years for us to get some sort of traffic flowing in Boston. If they want their convention in Boston they best come up with a better setup. The people who are affected most are the people who see absolutely no benefit from the DNC.

Andy, Wakefield

This is ridiculous. If the highway and train station are such dangerous targets, they should be closed permanently. I don't see anyone suggesting that. This just reinforces the egotistical politicians who think they are above the rest of us. Kerry is likely to lose his own state in the election for agreeing to such pompous actions.

john, boston

I'll vote for GOP. The mess democrats are creating shows how much they care about working people. GOP doesn't shutdown Penn Station in NY.

Ilya , Somerville

This is ridiculous. If you shut down North Station, but allow road traffic during the day and close 93 in the evening, then all the rail commuters are going to drive instead. The city will be gridlocked. I don't have the luxury of taking vacation days, so I'm screwed. Why did we build a convention center? Kerry should move the convention, he has the power to do it. If nothing else, it'll be payback for all the years Mass voters have supported him.

Brad R, Peabody

The North Station area has been wrong since the get-go. It's an inconvenience to all so a select few can feel good about themselves.

Andrew, Boston

If these people get elected, they are going to screw up the country for four years. Screwing up Boston for four days is just a warm-up act.

Brian, Wenham

I think it's ridiculous to inconvenience thousands of commuters & residents in the area. This area is know for horrible traffic problems anyways, and now they want to close the highway & North Station? Go back to Washington...

Tim M., Milford, NH