Category: This just in

Historic Findings at 59th Street Columbus Circle

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02plaque2large.jpgAs you know, I’ve been bitching about the massive, never ending amount of construction at 59th Street Columbus Circle. Well, the builders just recently discovered a little piece of subway history. They found this plaque mounted behind a false wall.

The plaque dates from before the IRT line even ran there…prior to 1901! How cool is that?

It just makes me wonder what kind of historic artifacts are hidden behind walls all over the city. Little bits of history, just covered up and forgotten.

It turns out that the 59th Street station was a kind of proving ground for the architects Heins & LaFarge in 1901, three years before the Interborough Rapid Transit Company trains began running through it.

“The architects used its walls as an art gallery, experimenting with decorative ideas in various colors of tiles and other materials,” Philip Ashforth Coppola wrote in “Silver Connections: A Fresh Perspective on the New York Area Subway Systems” (Four Oceans Press, 1984). “When the real decorating of Columbus Circle began, all these preliminary experiments were covered over and forgotten.” That is, until this fall. [From NY Times. Read more here]

There’s talk about carefully cutting it out of the wall and placing it in the transit museum. I wish they would leave it right where it is, maybe restore it a little bit, and make it available for people to see. The could do something artistic with the way the wall is peeled away just around the plaque part itself. It’s really cool, as a rider, to come across these little treasures.

The Idiots Just Never Stop

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Back in mid October, we did the story about a subway surfer that died up around 155th Street. Read the original story here.

At the time, witnesses said they saw Benjamin Brooks, 23, subway surfing, he fell, and was killed.

Well, now Brooks’ sister is writing in to comment. She says we should lay off, it was a tragedy, and he was just “…riding to get in the cart.” Here’s what she says:

benjimin was never pushed nor was he train surfing…..hes was riding to get in the cart…..before you make any judgement get your fActs straight because this was a tradgedy……plus people die doing all types of risky hobbies….so leave my brother alone and allow him to rest in peace!!!!!!!!!

Ok, first of all, what the hell does “riding to get in the cart” mean? Was he riding on the roof, hoping to get inside?

Secondly, look at date this was first published. It was published before the official results were published.

Third, I clearly said:

If it turns out that the kid accidentally fell off an overpass, onto the top of the train, and then surfed it downtown, I will retract my statement.

Fourth, people that were actually there said they saw him on top of the train. Those are called witnesses. I’m gonna go with no. Were you there?

Fifth, let’s look at those “facts” you say I need to get straight. Here’s what the New York Times published the next day:

But yesterday, the police said that it appeared that the dead man, Benjamin Brooks, 23, had simply missed a southbound C train at 155th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue in Harlem around 6:30 p.m. His friends were already inside, the authorities said, so Mr. Brooks apparently decided to hang by his fingers, and balance by his feet, from the outside of the car’s door.

When the train entered the tunnel between 155th and 145th Streets, Mr. Brooks, who had been living at a homeless shelter in Harlem, was apparently shorn from its side, the authorities said.

Well well well. It seems that your brother was just as dumb as suspected. Instead of just catching the next train, or waiting for his friends to get off the next stop and come back, your brother decided to cling onto the outside of the train like Spider Man. Only, he doesn’t have super powers.

Remember this video, and how appalled we all were? Yeah, this is the kind of thing your brother did.

So yeah, my judgment was was pretty accurate. I was wrong, he wasn’t surfing on top of the train. He was just voluntarily clinging to the side of it.

I’m sorry, this wasn’t a tragedy. This was an someone doing something that any normal person knows would get them killed. Just because it did get him killed doesn’t mean it was a tragedy. If I decide to lay down in the middle of the Lincoln Tunnel to take a nap and get run over, that is not a tragedy.

It would be a tragedy if someone was severely hurt inside the train when they had to slam on the brakes when they realized he was shorn from the side of the train. It would be a tragedy if a rescue worker was killed trying to save his life. However, your brother getting killed, while sad, was exactly the outcome that should be expected when someone does something that stupid. Oh, and by the way, riding outside the train is also illegal, so that makes the situation a crime too.

Why the subway custodian probably makes more than the rookie cop patrolling that station

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The subject is subway security. You’d think that NYC would want to have the best officers possible. I’m not saying we don’t, but it certainly isn’t easy to attract them. Why?

Well, as a rookie officer, you’re looking at $38,000 a year. That’s it. So right out of the gate you are limiting yourself in terms of recruiting because there’s not many people who would be willing to only make $38k a year.

This is all nothing new. No breaking news. However, this all made me wonder how much MTA Employees make.

Yesterday, we ran a little poll to see what people thought plumbers, custodians, painters, etc should make on an annual basis. The results show that 75% of our readers think these positions should make less than $45,000 a year.

How much do these MTA/NYC Transit workers actually make? Surprisingly, that basic info is available online. The MTA posts it’s open jobs with salary ranges right on their website. Here’s some highlights.

There’s an opening for Manager of the 7 line. That must be a popular gig these days. Salary: $124,800 – $208,500.

Telephone Maintainer: $52,000 (plus night & weekend bonus)
Plumber: $52,000 (plus night & weekend bonus)
Structure Maintainer (aka Painter): $52,000
Manager, Car Accident Investigation and Testing: $60,700 – $95,900
Administrative Associate: $48,000
Customer Service Rep: $53,000

I especially loved this one: Read More »

Hemmerdinger Quite the Humdinger

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hemmerdinger2.jpg(Sorry for the headline. Couldn’t resist)

Ok, let’s break this down. There’s some amazingly stupid shit happening up in Albany. This shit smells remarkably similar to the shit dished by George Bush when asked why the hell he thought Mike Brown was qualified to run FEMA.

As we all know, there is an opening for Chairman of the MTA. The way this works is that the Governor nominates a replacement. Then there’s a confirmation process, yadda yadda. Well, as you can imagine, there’s potential for some cronyism because you have to be nominated for the job.

Enter Spitzer’s nominee, H. Dale Hemmerdinger.

Hemmerdinger freely admits that he knows very little, if anything, about transportation policy. In a nutshell, he knows when he presses the gas, his car goes forward. That is the extent of his transportation knowledge.

Before the State Transportation Board, he was peppered with questions.

Asked what the state would do to handle more riders if New York City imposed congestion pricing, Mr. Hemmerdinger replied: “I only know what I read in the papers at this point.”

On his familiarity with the authority’s proposals for a fare increase: “I’ve looked at it as I’ve read it in the paper.” [NY TIMES]

Yes, he used the “read it in the paper” response at least a dozen more times, according to the New York Times.

Maybe someone without any transportation experience whatsoever is exactly what the MTA needs. A fresh perspective perhaps?

Idiot of the Day

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sleep.jpg

I don’t often get fired up about the opinions expressed in the comments by readers of this blog, but this most recent one made my blood boil. Here’s the scenario:

Back on September 13th, we posted a story about a kid getting shot at subway station right near the token booth. As a side comment, I said I hoped the token clerk wasn’t asleep at the time so that maybe they could identify the suspect. On that note, I posted six (that’s right…six) different photos I found online of MTA Employees literally sleeping on the job.

After that, I commented that employees sleeping on the job should have their new raises revoked and given to employees that actually manage to stay AWAKE during their shift.

Then, Tom McManus (a subway worker) posted this response:

WOW!, I see you don’t miss any chance you get to bash us BASTARDS. Perhaps it was the token clerk who shot him. And I suppose you are 100% productive 100% of the time you are at work, RIGHT? I may be a BASTARD but you are an @$$hole!

My jaw dropped with I read this. He’s actually defending people who sleep on the job. As if it’s not that big of a deal because no one is ever “100% productive 100% of the time” at their jobs. Because you know, we all fall asleep at work all the time. What’s the big deal, right? (Here’s my full response)

So the TWU wants raises, free benefits, etc for their workers, but little naps during your shift are ok too.

Am I the only one who thinks this is the most ridiculous comment ever?

Subway Surfer Killed in Washington Heights (155th Street)

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Rumor has it that a 21 year old was “thrown from a train” up in Washington Heights, and killed.  Details are very hard to come by because police are not being very forthcoming at this time.  Also, details are hard to get late at night when the majority of the press are home in bed.

The kid was on (literally) a downtown C train.  Witnesses say that he may have been train surfing.

What the hell is train surfing?  It’s riding on the top of the subway cars like an old western movie.  Possibly one of the dumbest ideas ever.

The “victim” was on top of the train, according to witness reports, when the train went under an overpass.  You can fill in the blanks from there.  I will insert the sound effect:  SPLAT!

I know, I know.  I’m going to get chewed apart in the comments for being insensitive.  I don’t care.  Folks, this is Darwinism at its best.  As a species, our future is a little better of than it was yesterday.

If it turns out that the kid accidentally fell off an overpass, onto the top of the train, and then surfed it downtown, I will retract my statement.

All the details are/were unconfirmed at the time this was posted.  However, my secret sources say this is pretty much a closed case.

Subway Murder Suicide

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Ohhh the plot thickens.

In the wee hours yesterday morning, you may have heard that 2 train service was all messed up in the Bronx “because of police activity.”  Translation:  Dead guy found on the tracks.  This all happened in the Farms Square-East Tremont Avenue station .

Here’s where this whole thing turns into the next episode of Law & Order…

Police investigators found a small piece of paper on the man with a woman’s name.  So, they decided to get in touch with her hoping that she could possibly identify this guy.  They showed up at her apartment only to find that she had been murdered!  [cue dramatic music]

The police said they were investigating the deaths as a possible case of murder and suicide, but emphasized that they had not definitively linked the man to the woman or to her death. [NT Times]

Mercedes Mesa, 62, of 1050 Anderson Avenue in the Bronx, was found to have been killed due to head injuries. 

The only thing that would make this more dramatic is if they find out that this guy was thrown onto the track by someone else.  Either way, that’s how it will play out on Law & Order in a few months.  Can’t wait.

New Fare Options Not Fair?

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Extra credit points to the Post for their cheeky headline:  “MTA Won’t Treat All Riders Fare-ly”

I guess I can give the Post partial credit for putting together their fare increase “calculator.”  I use the term loosely.  It’s just a table, but whatever.  Let’s see if I can do it better.

First, read the back-story here.

Option #1:

Single Ride        –  New Cost:    $2.25
Unlimited Card –  New Cost:  $79.00

Option #2:

Single Ride        –  Peak Fare:    $2.25
Single Ride        –  Off-Peak Fare:    $1.50
Unlimited Card – Peak Fare: $82.00
**Single Ride Off-Peak Fare discount only applies with $6 minimum purchase.

Clearly an off peak discount would be cool for single riders, however, it ends up being us Unlimited Ride users that pay for it!  So boo to option 2.  Also, that’s way too much to keep track of.  You’ll end up having change on your MetroCard.  So you could end up with only $0.50 on your card, which then you would have to recharge.

That will make it hard to keep track of (mentally) how much you have left on your card.  Right now, if you have $10 on your card, you know you’ve got 5 rides…period.  With a peak/off peak system, you could end up getting 6 and 2/3rds rides.  That last $1.00 on your card isn’t going to get you anywhere.  So you would have to add an additional 50 cents or dollar to your card to get a full fare.

If we need to do something, let’s hope we end up with Option 1.  It’s a fare hike.  We don’t need to get cute with it.

This Just In (for like the 4th time this year): The Subways are Crowded As Hell

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New numbers recently released show that subway ridership in the first 6 months of 2007 was 4% HIGHER than the same time period in 2006.

Only 4%?  That’s not much, right?   Wrong!

When you figure in the actual raw numbers, it’s huge.  There’s already been about a billion subway rides this year.  BILLION!

The PATH train’s growth was 7%.  That only goes to show that populations are growing in areas like Hoboken.  More and more people are choosing to live outside in these areas, and simply make the short commute in.  If you work in lower Manhattan, it’s almost more convenient than living on the Upper East or West side.  You just hop on the PATH and get dropped off in the heart of the financial district.  Just pick up your bags of money, and head back to your slick Hoboken loft.

If you had to guess, how many people would you think ride the subway on a normal weekday?  If you said 7.2 million people, you would be correct.  That, or you read the same Newsday article I did.

Bloomberg Wants Cameras on Subway Cars

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Paris Subway Security Cameras 

Mayor Bloomberg went on a little trip to London this week.  He liked what he saw in their public transporation system.  All of their busses and subways have 2 to 3 cameras in each car.

I think it is a great idea.  It will hopefully make us safer…that’s obvious.  But what I’m really hoping it will do is cut down on the graffiti and defacement of the subways. 

Bloomberg also enjoyed their community bike program.

I hate all that etched crap that those asshole wannabe artists/gangsters tag on the windows.  This would catch them on tape.  Of course, this all assumes that there would be some sort of enforcement associated with the taping.  It will not do any good if the police don’t follow up on what they see.  So I guess that’s just another challenge. 

Unfortunately, Bloomberg said something that I know is going to come back to haunt him almost immediately: 

“We just have to do something here to make the city safer. Sadly, it is a little bit of an infringement on your rights,” Bloomberg told a news conference. [Reuters]

Some NYC busses have cameras mounted in them.  However, you don’t often hear of many bus related crimes for some reason.

Anway, our subway survelance security is pretty pathetic.  There’s entire stops that have one or no cameras at all.

There’s a reason that there’s cameras every 8 feet in casinos, banks, federal buildings, shopping malls, etc.  They help protect the people and the property. 

Protecting the people has its obvious benefits.  Protecting the property protects what Americans value most…their money.  Lowering vandalism will actually save tax payer/fare payer money in the long run.