Month: November 2006

Is there a problem here? A potential candidate to head the MTA

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Lee Sanders, a top Executive at DMJM Harris, is the assumed top candidate to take over the MTA, however, he was just named to Governor Elect Spitzer’s transition team for transportation policy.  Does anyone else find it to be a problem that DMJM Harris has millions of dollars in contracts with the city for transportation?

Sanders has been the presumed candidate to replace MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow if he steps down.   Kalikow is supposed to hold the office for the next 6 years, and there isn’t really anything that Spitzer can do about it.  However, it is rumored that he may step down after the Second Avenue line funding is in place.  So, Sanders was expected to be the top man for that gig.

But now he is going to be co-chairing Spiter’s transition team for transportation.  In either case, is this a guy that should have this level of control over the city’s transit system considering that his firm has millions of dollars in transportation contracts?  Sure, he is probably very qualitifed since he obviously knows a bundle about mass transporation….but…..

Thank you Friday

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Oh man am I glad that Friday is here. I even had a chance to get to the subway a little earlier than normal. That means less crowding.

I even made it to the platform just as a train arrived. It is a beautiful thing!

This weekend I hope to do some follow up stories on some posts earlier in the month. There were many issues still left wide open that I think deserve more attention.

So until then…
Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

Getting hot in here

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Whoa…we need the air conditioning turned back on in some of these trains. I think the MTA is trying to sweat me out of the system.

It is a beautiful temp on the plastforms, but the train I am on right now is 95 degrees. I don’t even have a coat on and I’m sweating standing still.

I’m sure many cars are ok on other lines.

Unfortunately, the climate control on these trains are pretty old. Either the AC is on or the Heat is on. That’s it. Or I guess both could be off.

The next generation of subway trains is supposed to be able to maintain a specific temp. So, if it is set to 70 degrees, the train will automatically kick on the heat or AC to reach that temp.

In the mean time, I will just keep concentrating on trying to not pass out.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

Beaujolais Nouveau makes it hard to type

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So I stopped to pick up 4 bottles of Le Beaujolais Nouveau.  Then, I continued on my way home, and jumped on the subway.  I quickly realized that it was going to be nearly impossible to type on my Blackberry with only one free hand.  The other was holding the bag of wine.  So, I gave up after it took 5 minutes to complete a single sentence.

On that note, I got the wine all the way home only to hear on the news that this year’s batch SUCKS!  Some wine critic was on the radio talking about how much this Beaujolais isn’t worth the bottle it comes in.

So I got off the subway, ran home, and opened it up.  I don’t think it sucks.  Last year’s was better, but it doesn’t suck. And it is still a fun tradition.

Anyway, carrying a lot of stuff home on the subway makes it hard to blog from the subway.  I would probably have to steal a seat to be able to get it done. Or maybe I should practivce working with one hand…so to speak.

How is that crime number now?

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A few weeks back, SUBWAYblogger wrote about how the subway recently enjoyed a 37 year low in crime. That’s right, subway crime is currently at its 37 year best.

However, we now wonder if the type of crazies we’ve seen lately have been included in that number.

For example, when someone throws themselves on to the tracks in an act of suicide, does that count as a crime? I guess it should.

First of all, suicide is illegal. Secondly, disrupting train service is also a crime. And the trauma inflicted on the innocent witnesses should be a crime to. So, again, I wonder if that is included.

It seem to me (in a completely nonscientific way) that there’s been a spike in people finding themselves under trains lately. This is NOT a victimless crime. The biggest victims are the motormen who drive the trains that hit the crazies. They must feel really guilty even though it is by no means their fault. Then there’s the witnesses. Lastly, all the people put out by the massive service outages as a result.

So it is definately a crime, but there’s rarely a criminal to punish.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

Hump day

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Who the hell came up with that term? Hump day? “Over the hump of the week.” Yeah that’s stupid.

Anyway, we are at the half way point, and that is a great thing.

Still don’t know why there are so many people on this damn train this morning, but whatever.

Usually, it isn’t this crowded for me on a Wednesday. I leave for work hours earlier than I normally would, so there typically are less people on the train. Not the case today.

There’s the usually punk students on the train, and it seems like a slew of extra adults. I guess it is only going to get worse from here on out.

November 18th is when many of the holiday bazars open. A couple weeks from today, they light the tree in Rockefeller. From there on out, it is as if someone fires a starter’s pistol. Millions head to the city for their holiday fill and use the subway to get themselves around.

Ok this is to depressing before my second cup of coffee.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

Stop the crazies!

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The crazies are back on the loose again.  Ok, so in case you haven’t heard…

A mother in Brooklyn killed her 9 year old boy because “the demons told her to.”  So she smothered her son to death.  Then, she decided that she had to run to the subway and throw her self on the tracks.

Unfortunately, the mother survived.  Yes, UN-fortunately.  Someone that crazy who also kills a kid deserves to end up on the tracks.  However, in this case, she couldn’t even do that right.  She ended up suffering a broken leg and a couple fingers got severed.  Otherwise, she’s in stable condition and will probably survive.

Anyway, the demons told her to kill her son.  That’s right, the demons.

So here’s the alleged skinny.  There was a birthday party planned for her son.  The day of the party comes, but there is no party.  Obviously, the kid is wicked bummed.  Then, out of the blue, the mom says the demons are telling her that her son needs to die.

The other boroughs have been getting a little to nutty for me lately.

Tuesday morning blues

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Don’t Tuesdays suck? It is still the beginning of the week. Still not at the half way point. Still three more days ahead. Just a whole lotta suck.

I think people just give up on Tuedays. As I look around, it doesn’t look like anyone is on time. People have an “ahhh screw it” attitude. So everyone on the platform is pissed because they are already running late. They know their day is going to suck, so the smallest stuff sets them off.

This woman just flipped out on another woman for taking her seat. She says, “oh shut up, you know I was going to sit there.”

The other woman had the best response. “If you were going to sit here, how come I got here first?”

That didn’t sit well with this bitch. She wasn’t going to let it go. On and on she ranted about people being rude.

Finally, a guy goes, “You know what’s rude? People who won’t shut up when no one cares.”

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

Free sleepers

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Did you ever stop and wonder how people sleep so freely on the subway. Sure, everyone closes their eyes for a little doze evey now and then. Then there’s some people that straight up pass out!

Many people just gently close their eyes and enjoy the ride. Then there’s the guy across from me. His head is handing over the end rail, his mouth is wide open, and his glasses are half cocked to the side of his head.

No he’s not dead. I saw him awake a little while ago. And he’s not a homeless guy either. He is in a full business suit!

There’s lots of people like him though. I just don’t get how people fall asleep like that in a public place. I mean any minute now I am waiting for the drool to start down his chin.

Watch him wake up in Brooklyn 2 hours from now!

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…