Police to search trains (Big Business Republican National Convention To Inconvenienece Millions)

NY Newsday ^ | April 28, 2004 | ROCCO PARASCANDOLA

[presidio9]

Every train headed for Penn Station during this summer's four-day GOP convention will be stopped and searched by cops and bomb-sniffing dogs, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly announced yesterday - an unprecedented plan likely to create a nightmare for millions of passengers on seven subway lines, two commuter trains and Amtrak.

Inconvenience aside, sources familiar with convention security plans say, Kelly believes it is the best way to prevent a terrorist attack.

"It's our goal to check every train, physically, with dogs and with police officers before it comes into Penn Station," Kelly said. "I think we're going to be well prepared."

About 500,000 passengers get on and off trains in Penn Station every day, riding the 1,9,2,3 or A,C,E subway lines; the LIRR or NJ Transit. Thousands more pass through on their way to other destinations.

[OXENinFLA]

an unprecedented plan likely to create a nightmare for millions of passengers

I don't want to think of what could happen if they DIDN'T do these sweeps.

[stuartcr]

Even if they find nothing...the bad guys win, just by this disruption and fear.

[AmishDude]

The GOP convention is a likely terrorist target. And none of the terrorists involved will be named Mohammed.

[spunkets]

If Bush didn't upset the terrorists, they wouldn't be trying to blow up the trains.

[Semper Paratus]

It would have served the press right if the GOP decided to hold the convention under a big tent in Midland Texas.

Three days of speechs, beers and barbecues, not necessarily in that order.

[Phantom Lord]

Atleast the trains will still run during the GOP convention. The DNC Convention in Boston has been trying to HALT train service to the area of the convention.

[Steve Van Doorn]

"If Bush didn't upset the terrorists, they wouldn't be trying to blow up the trains."

I been hearing more from libs saying this none sense. They never cease to amaze me.

[presidio9]

Not sure why. The terrorists WANT Kerry to be our next President.

[rocky88]

Like I said in yesterday's thread about the massive protests that will take place during the RNC convention: WHY DOESN'T THE RNC JUST RENT A BIG OL' CRUISE SHIP AND ELIMINATE ALL THIS HASSLE????

[presidio9]

BTW, for those who do not know NYC, the threat to the GOP Convention is very real. Penn Station is directly underneath Madison Square Garden.

[princess leah]

When we lived in Los Angeles during the 1984 Olympics, they encouraged people to carpool, take vacation, work off hours, etc during the weeks of the games and you know what, it really cut down on traffic...Perhaps the good mayor might send an invitation to his citizens to adjust their schedule for the 4 small days the convention is in town...It's on or close to the Labor Day weekend anyway, so heck, take a few days extra and make a nice vacation out of it!

[MineralMan]

Personally, I think this was a poor choice as a venue for the convention. Just about every mass transportation system in Manhattan converges on Penn Station. Checking every train, subway car, and bus that is on its way to Penn Station is going to be almost impossible.

Further, the security resources to accomplish this will cripple law enforcement elsewhere in the city.

Now, Bush has no chance to win in New York state, but this is going to tick off New Yorkers beyond belief, and is going to head every news program during the convention, perhaps even overshadowing the convention itself.

By simply moving this convention to the Javits convention center, they would solve all these problems, since no subway or train lines come near it. The river runs close by, but is a long block away, and blocking river traffic would be less of a problem.

Dumb move, in my opinion, but one that still could be changed.

[GOP_1900AD]

Javits would be a good venue indeed.

[spunkets]

" I been hearing more from libs saying this none sense."

They've been at it since last spring. Their ops stand in checkout lines and other public places and discuss this out load, so the whole front of the store, or surrounding group hears it. I've decided the next time I see and hear it, I'll join the discussion.

[oceanview]

Bush has zero chance of winning NY, so doing this to the residents here is actually better then shutting down Orlando if the convention had been held there.

[presidio9]

This convention should have been in Miami or Tampa. Kerry can not possibly win the Electoral College without winning Florida.

[GOPJ]

Bump comment:

Let's return the "respect" Nightline gave to our dead troops.

How about getting some anti-homosexual Christian TV evangelist to read the names of gays who die of AIDS. We can even show their pictures, and maybe interview a few crying relatives.

Would the media see this as creepy? Tacky? Sick? Would they see it the way we see Nightline?

[oceanview]

Being in NY, i hear it all the time. I always say the same simple thing - if Kerry wins, a nuclear device will be set off in Manhattan within 10 years. I never get an argument from them.

[MizSterious]

Or babies killed by abortions. Then you'd hear the screeching, bet on it.