Holy security, Batman!

[jennyanydots]

Gotham City is under siege!

no, wait, it's just NYC preparing for the Republican National convention.

there were so many cops in Penn Station tonight that I actually winced.

no, really.

I am a law abiding citizen, I have never had so much as a speeding ticket. I have nothing but respect and admiration for NY's finest.

but there were so many uniformed officers in Penn that I had to check...which side of the Iron Curtain are we on?


Yeah, I know, the Iron Curtain doesn't exist anymore, and to be truthful, I never visited an Iron Curtain country. but I did grow up during the Cold War.

everyone in NYC has been walking around with a figurative target on their backs for the last 3 years. but this show of force doesn't make me feel "safe", it makes me feel like I inadvertently wandered into a police state.


so, yeah, this is still America, land of the (almost) free and home of the (not so very) brave.


good thing I'll be out of town during the convention.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Unfortunately, there are a LOT of nutjobs who have stated to the press that they plan to wreak havoc.

I have heard everything from people who plan to throw marbles under horses feet to hurt them and the officers riding them to people who plan to dress up as convention volunteers and give people wrong directions.

This has been reported pretty widely. About a month and a half ago, I actually posted a link to a news article about it.

I think there is a web site out there too giving people advice on how to riot and how to do some pretty terrible things without getting caught.

Heavy security sucks. But insane people who think it's a good protest tactic to try and break horses legs make it a sad necessity during this event.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Just to add - I'm in Boston, and while we had some serious wackos here I don't think it attracted as many who came straight out and said they planned on physically hurting people.

We had some heavy security but it was not that bad at all. If anything, it was one of the easiest commuting weeks ever.

I honestly do not think they are worried about international terrorism. The security in NYC and in Boston are, I think, directly related to groups like the ones I mentioned above.

 

[jennyanydots]

Esmerelda, Penn Station is UNDERGROUND, they're not throwing marbles under horses' hooves in Penn Station.


another delightful day in Moscow on the Hudson.

the absurdity of it all.

Jimmy Breslin

the best photo of the day -- two officers with heavy duty firepower guarding...Victoria's Secret.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by jennyanydots
Esmerelda, Penn Station is UNDERGROUND, they're not throwing marbles under horses' hooves in Penn Station.


another delightful day in Moscow on the Hudson.

the absurdity of it all.

Jimmy Breslin

the best photo of the day -- two officers with heavy duty firepower guarding...Victoria's Secret.

Well, Jenny, I hate to have to be the one to inform you of this, but these groups want to wreak havoc ALL OVER the city. Not just Penn Station. There are other tactics these loons are using. The horses are just one of them.

I'll see if I can find the website from the protest group, or maybe someone else can remember what it's called before I find it.

IMO, you should really be grateful that these security people are there.

All these references to the Iron Curtain and Moscow are ridiculous. It's a week out of your life where you might be minorly inconvenienced with extra security.

Get over it. We put up for it for a week in Boston, and I took public transportation into the city every day and security did not bother me, or anyone I know. Not one time.

I seriously doubt they are going to bother you.

 

[rcyannacci]

One of my friends from highschool is a cop in NY, and he says he’s really worried about what might happen. And not just from the protestors. All NYC cops are going to be on overtime, tired from too many hours and having to deal with aggressive protestors. He said he’s afraid of a Kent State scenario.

I’m glad I’m not in the city; I somehow managed to miss both conventions with my trips to Boston and NYC this summer.

jennyanydots- I remember feeling the same way when I flew for the first time after 9/11 and saw all of the reservists with guns standing in the airports. Glad you’ll be out of town.

 

[Nancy]

If you are that upset about it then it is a good thing you will be out of town. My inlaws are very grateful for the extra security...we were just talking about this last weekend. And while you may be a law abiding citizen...there are some that are not and will use the convention as an excuse to cause trouble. Lets just hope and pray that the city will not need the police that you are seeing.

 

[cati]

c

 

[jennyanydots]

Originally posted by EsmeraldaX
Well, Jenny, I hate to have to be the one to inform you of this, but these groups want to wreak havoc ALL OVER the city. Not just Penn Station. There are other tactics these loons are using. The horses are just one of them.

I'll see if I can find the website from the protest group, or maybe someone else can remember what it's called before I find it.

IMO, you should really be grateful that these security people are there.

All these references to the Iron Curtain and Moscow are ridiculous. It's a week out of your life where you might be minorly inconvenienced with extra security.

Get over it. We put up for it for a week in Boston, and I took public transportation into the city every day and security did not bother me, or anyone I know. Not one time.

I seriously doubt they are going to bother you.

I'll tell you something, we in NYC are used to it. I've seen some really freaky stuff in NYC on "normal" days. no one blinks. our police force at regular strength can handle the loons and the crackpots, they've been doing it for years.

you don't think I appreciate the real work the cops do? just weeks after 9/11 we were able to host a World Series! that was amazing.


did you bother to read the Breslin article?

we've got cops swarming all over midtown doing nothing, when real danger points are vulnerable and exposed.


and people are feeling uncomfortable.

 

[Elwood Blues]

Originally posted by jennyanydots


when real danger points are vulnerable and exposed.

And how do you know this? Seriously.

But I must say I found your statement "(almost) (not very)" contemptible. Just who were you referring to by that comment?

 

[jennyanydots]

you didn't read the Breslin article either, did you? honestly, a nautral gas pipeline under the Hudson is more viatl to our security than a lingerie shop, don't you think?

NYC is feeling like a police state, peaceful protest is being over-regulated and over-controlled -- hence "almost free". people like Esmerelda let fear dominate their thinking -- some trade their civil liberties for an illusion of phisical safety -- hence "not so brave". not exactly the legacy of our founding fathers, is it?

 

[jennyanydots]

by the way, may I ask where you live, Elwood?

it seems to me that most NYers find the display of force almost a farce. we respect and admire our police force but think the dog and pony show is close to becoming a farce. having groups of officers literally standing in the halls of Penn Station isn't going to make us safe, it's an illusion. our cops have better things to do -- like real police work. in the 20 minutes it took for my train to come today I saw no less than 12 uniformed officers standing around chatting with each other. no, wait, one officer directed a tourist to where the tourist could buy a railroad ticket.

we need oficers in Penn, of course, but...really, it's a waste of effort to have that many officers standing around looking cute in their uniforms.

it's mostly people from outside the city who think that the current security measures are needed or appropriate. and it's mostly the same people who promise the city homeland security funds but fail to deliver.

 

[ripleysmom]

"Get over it. We put up for it for a week in Boston, and I took public transportation into the city every day and security did not bother me, or anyone I know. Not one time."

Esmerelda, if I'm not mistaken weren't you the one complaining about the DNC and all of the security a few weeks ago?

 

[kingbilly]

I can assure there is NO need to panic, we have everything in hand

 

[Planogirl]

We always hear that crackpots and nutcases are going to do evil things during these conventions. This isn't anything new. I would hope that the extra security isn't because of that but due to the possibility of terrorism from afar.

I think that balancing the need for security with the need for civil liberties is difficult. I hope that some of this is just growing pains as we find the right balance.