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? Who decided that the Fleet Center would be an appropriate venue? Obviously from the beginning we had issues. . . . let's all go to DC and close down the major road to downtown for 4 days. . . . . .
gee, brighton
This is asinine. The terrorists have already won. I thought the idea was that we were supposed to carry on with our lives, not change them in fear that something might happen. Given how much everyone from here to Kabul wants George W out of office, Al Qaeda would probably show up to cheer Kerry on and sell t-shirts.
adam, somerville,ma
What would happen if you stopped the blood flowing through your jugular vein? You wouldn't live for very long. Route 93 is Boston's jugular. As a commuter from the North, I find it hard to believe that they have decided to shut down the one major access route in and out of the city. The whole thing should be moved to the new convention center where security is easier to establish and control. It is supposed to be an honor to have the DNC held in your city, but for those of us whose lives can't stop for the four days, it will be a nightmare.
Alex , Medford
Reply: Your kidding right? Send the convention to Cape Cod, in July, in the midst of what is know as Tourist season. Sending the convention to Cape Cod will send Traffic down Rt 3 through Plymouth and you will be effected. In the summer we barely have the infrastructure to handle the tourists. Now with the limitation of HB-2 visas, the seasonal work force has been compromised and we don't have the manpower to handle the vast amount of people expected for a convention of the magnitude.
HK, Cape Cod
Let me see if I understand this correctly.....the Powers That Be are essentially closing down easy access to the city during the Convention.....so the taxpayers & full time residents are going to be measurably inconvenienced for a spectacle that.....for all intents and purposes is already settled.....this isn't 40 years ago when the convention actually DID something....it is an outrageusly expensive dog & pony show.....--it's sole purpose is to Officially give the nod to Kerry ----whom the press is ALREADY calling the presumptive candidate....so tell me again WHY this farce is taking place ---costing millions of dollars (I don't care if some of the $ is donated.....there is no such thing as a free lunch & the "donaters" -be assured - will definitely get something back for their "donation") Ted Kennedy wants a "Last Hurrah" moment & it is too bad that this spectacle will appear to be it --when in fact - his legacy of what he has genuinely contributed to Mass and the Nation - is far superior and longlasting than this stupid show.
Barbara L, Saugus
The pending closure of North Station and I-93 are simply unacceptable. Granted the convention was booked at a time where security concerns were not what they are now, so I understand that the DNC cannot easily choose another city. However, with the very usable new Convention Center available, I find it selfish and disgraceful that the DNC won't rise to the occasion and move the convention to South Boston. We are at a time where security measures require that we all do some sacrificing and changing of our lives. It is clear that the DNC expects the hundreds of thousands of hard-working citizens of the Boston area to do all of the sacrificing here. So the convention center does not have arena-style seating. Use some imagination. So the convention center isn't walking distance to most hotels. Neither is the Fleet Center. This will go down in history as one of the biggest flops in convention history. When the Democrats lose all those juicy swing votes in November, they will need only to look back at the huge mistake they made in what they put the people of Boston through in July.
Mike, Boston
This is a great inconvience to those of us who use North Station on a daily basis. If the Republican Convention can be held in NYC just above Madison Square Garden, while below the subway continues to run, there is No reason to close North Station. This is poor planning by the DNC and the City of Boston.
Michael , Lowell
This is a great inconvience to those of us who use North Station on a daily basis. If the Republican Convention can be held in NYC just above Madison Square Garden, while below the subway continues to run, there is No reason to close North Station. This is poor planning by the DNC and the City of Boston.
Michael , Lowell
Let's see, the Big Dig (Fleet Center end) is finished up just in time for the beautiful people to ooooh and ahh over it, the people that are going to PAY for it for a hundred years can't use it while the beautiful people ooooh and ahhh. Hmmmm. I don't get it. As Bug's Bunny would say, "What a maroon".
Loren , Westborough
By the people, for the people, and just keep the people at bay. I think it's a wonderful stooge-like performance to totally inconvenience the entire metro area and interstate highway system so that Kerry can be King for a few days! Oh, please! Now remind me, why did we build a convention center and why did we do the big dig?
Done With Dems, Arlington
