T riders to face searches during convention
Subway and commuter rail riders will face more random searches as part of Democratic National Convention security measures, and will be discouraged from bringing backpacks and briefcases on board public trains. Is this necessary? Will you comply?
in today's globe: T riders face more random checks
Page 8
The plan for random bag searching is a poor idea for enhancing "security." The idea that a terrorist would try to blow up the Fleetcenter by bringing a bag on the T seems far-fetched, almost as much so as thinking that random bag searches would prevent such an attempt. But to all those people who are using this as a political foil, I ask that you refrain from thinly-veiled attempts at political propaganda. No one is going to base their vote in the November election on this issue, regardless of whether you suggest it in this forum. Consider this exchange: Q: "SF from Melrose, you seem like a smart person, who did you vote for?" A: "Well, even though George Bush wrecked the economy, the environment and public education, and plunged us into an unnecessary war in the Middle East, I voted for him anyway because I was inconvenienced by the Democratic Convention."
Phil , Melrose
This situation gets worse every day. Maybe the Mayor should stay home with his breifcase the week of the convention. Does he forget that he works for and is paid by the people of City of Boston, those people he should be most concerned about. I think his desire to get the convention into this City was a ploy to get some positive national recognition and since Boston is clearly not prepared for the convention his recognition will most certainly be negative and rightly so. Good job, Mayor.
Nancy , Middleboro
I know Boston wanted this convention but obviously they are not prepared to handle it. Can you imagine New Yorkers putting up with this crap? Can you imagine NYC closing down Penn Station? New Yorkers would have the RNC & Bloomberg's head on a platter. It would be the French Revolution but in NYC. Boston is not equipped to host this convention. It is not the DNC it is Boston not being PREPARED! Perfect example: BIG DIG! Every other person on the T carries some type of bag or briefcase!! Commuters are going to work not plotting an assassination attempt. Basically this whole mess will make some people vote for Bush {EGADS}. Boston, if you want to play with the big boys think act like NEW YORK and the rest of the country.
Richelle, Boston
"They that give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety"....... Benjamin Franklin
Ed, Quincy
You've got to be kidding me. There will be several hour delays getting into Boston. It will resemble a demilitarized zone once in the city, and just to add insult to injury you can't actually bring anything in a bag back and forth between work and home. Great idea!! I'm sending bills at $850 an hour to the DNC, the Secret Service and Mayor Menino for every minute I'm inconvenienced. The good thing is this is only supposed to drain about $32 million from the local economy. The worst part is I really don't want George Bush re-elected.
JG, North End
I will gladly leave town for the week if city officials give me a week's pay.
Andrea, Cambridge
this is a response to "realist"-- I have nothing to hide in my bag, but the bill of rights! Read the fourth amendment, and then actually think about how likely it is that a terrorist will blow up the redline at Alewife, or the Orange line at Ruggles. The way the state is taking away our rights is horrifying! The next thing they'll do is requite that we carry papers. Bush and Co have to go, and so does Romney for not telling the T to get a grip!
Jim, Boston
All this uproar and chaos and disruption to the residents of Boston so the DNC can nominate .... Kerry ... what a startling event that will be. They should hold these bloody-stupid-excuse-to-get-drunk conventions in Big Sky country or the empty plains of Kansas where no one's life will be so ridiculously upended. Way to go America, the terrorists already won. They don't have to threaten, they don't have to generate "chatter" -- they've managed to terrorize by doing absolutely nothing. And we've bought into it.
Inf, Boston
Absolutely NOT necessary. I've seen the people who commute to work on the trains. They carry lap, tops, peanut butter sandwiches, umbrellas, folders, documents, coffee cups, cell phones and an occasional cruller. LEAVE WORKING PEOPLE WHO PAY TAXES AND NEED TO FEED THEIR KIDS ALONE!!! The Democratic National Catastrophe is an abomination. I can't get to work and it's going to cost my family $2000 and my small company $25,000. and JOHN KERRY, it's going to cost you and all your friends a lot of votes. SAVE MASSACHUSETTS, CANCEL THE CONVENTION!!!! $100 million dollar loss to the area, just what the economy needs.
michael, danvers
I'm not going to do a thing. I'm working from home so it's not a problem for me. Tommy Mumbles & Teddy Two Ton can have their little party, irritate a great deal of the public and then be voted out of office. That is if all the people here whining are actually registered voters.
Joe, Quincy
