Argh! Convention!

[RachelEllen]

Is anyone else in Boston hating the DNC convention already? There were police cars and helicopters everywhere downtown. The starbucks was filled by 6am with a line of people with convention credentials. The hospital cafeteria lines had people with press passes in them.

Worst of all, the ambulence companies are only doing emergent runs. We have all these babies in the ICU who are now well enough to be sent to community hospitals, but are stuck downtown because it's not an 'emergency' to get them out. Only, they're sometimes hours away from their parents during this hideous commuting week.

I wish they could hold this thing out in the desert somewhere!

Rachel

 

[Alicnwondrln]

I work at the New England Aquarium and my ride was easy as pie today no issues. I just want there to be no issues and for it to be over

 

[mtblujeans]

Sure, Las Vegas has 1 or 2 convention centers, don't they??

 

[TammiMcMan]

I travel Storrow Drive via the Tobin Bridge 4 times a day, I was very surprised that there was hardly any traffic. In fact, I think I saw more police cars along Route 1 than civilian cars. They had a few spots set up where they were randomly pulling over trucks and searching them. My guess is that anyone who took today off and saw the light traffic on the news will probably venture into town tomorrow. It's an eerie feeling when the F16's fly overhead or the coast guard choppers go by. DS and I even noticed the men on the roof the Fleet center this afternoon when we were coming home. I watched only a few minutes of the convention and then had to shut it off. People acted crazy and wearing silly things. I'll be glad when it's all over. What a huge hassle.

 

[RachelEllen]

Yeah. of all things, the traffic has not been bad at all. It's just the general lockdown of the city that's been a pain.

 

[Missy1961]

I work in NYC, across the street from Madison Square Garden, the site of the Republic Convention in a month. I know it's been a pain for you guys in Boston, but it will probably be about 5 times worse for us--because Bush will be here. My company has to be opened, we have about 5 deadlines to reach that week. So we're going to come in early, leave early and pray. I'm not looking forward to it at all.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Missy, I was wondering how the NYC security would be compared to what we have going on here. Is it Penn Station that runs under Madison Square Garden? Are they closing it down too? The police presence has extended all the way out to the subarbs here with trucks being randomly pulled over and searched. I had heard that NYC wouldn't experience many of the road and commuter line closings that Boston has, but figured all that might change as the RNC got closer.

DH is having a difficult time dealing with his work deadlines also. Many of the employees were initially given permission to work from home, but now he's had to call them all in because they are running into issues.

So far, so good here. I hope all goes well for you guys too.

 

[Robinrs]

Major cities have major nuisances... I think it's time I moved to a town that would NEVER host an Olympics, a convention OR a Superbowl!!

 

[Missy1961]

Originally posted by TammiMcMan
Missy, I was wondering how the NYC security would be compared to what we have going on here. Is it Penn Station that runs under Madison Square Garden? Are they closing it down too? The police presence has extended all the way out to the subarbs here with trucks being randomly pulled over and searched. I had heard that NYC wouldn't experience many of the road and commuter line closings that Boston has, but figured all that might change as the RNC got closer.

DH is having a difficult time dealing with his work deadlines also. Many of the employees were initially given permission to work from home, but now he's had to call them all in because they are running into issues.

So far, so good here. I hope all goes well for you guys too.

At this time, they are NOT planning on closing Penn Station. It is under MSG, but it is WAY under--there is tons of concrete, etc. between PS & MSG. Also from what I understand, many commuters in Boston use Fleet Center as an exit. That isn't as big an issue here in NYC. But we truly have no idea what will happen. They have told us that they plan to check every train coming into Penn Station with bomb sniffing dogs. They have suggested that people avoid PS, but I have no choice--I work here!

We had the DNC here in 1992--what a difference! That was fun, we were watching the protesters every day. Of course, that wasn't a sitting president (Clinton got nominated that year for the 1st time) and it was before 9/11...............

 

[RachelEllen]

I was in Atlanta during the Olympics. Honestly, it was nothing like this. Maybe most of this hasn't made the national news, but they've closed down one one of the major commuter rail stations. During rush hour each evening, they close the major highway out of the city.

This is on top of expected stuff like the random truck searches, searching people on trains, multiple road closures in the city, helicopters everywhere, etc.

I work in a hospital really close to the convention. I got out of work Monday morning, and my parking garage was barricaded off!

I don't think I'd mind so much if it were an important event. But the convention doesn't even accomplish anything!

 

[ZebraStripes]

Originally posted by Robinrs
Major cities have major nuisances... I think it's time I moved to a town that would NEVER host an Olympics, a convention OR a Superbowl!!

.... or a casino

 

[Cindy B]

Originally posted by Robinrs
Major cities have major nuisances... I think it's time I moved to a town that would NEVER host an Olympics, a convention OR a Superbowl!!

Well, you won't see the Olympics or Superbowl in Philadelphia.

We did have the RNC about 4 (maybe five years ) ago, and it honestly wasn't that bad.

 

[mtemm]

Hey! we used to live in Arlington! My MIL still does and had to head into Mass General today for something...hope she had an easy time of it.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Also from what I understand, many commuters in Boston use Fleet Center as an exit.

They could have easily let the subway pass through North Station (actually across the street from the Fleet Center) and just not allow the normal stop. Instead, because the subway passes beneath it, they've stopped everything from going through and you have to be bussed between the stations. And as Rachel mentioned, there are major highway closings that start miles away from the Fleet Center just because one stretch of the roadway passes within yards of it. Honestly, if someone wanted to do damage, they could easily do it from one of the apartment buildings or garages that are literally right next door. My DD(8) was a little freaked out today as we went over the bridge into Boston. There was a coast guard helicopter hovering maybe 50 feet from us, with the door open and someone viewing the cars with binoculors. I guess one thing that this has made me realize is that I am lucky to be living here. In other parts of the world, this could be a daily part of life for them and not just a 4 day nuisance.