Murder In A Philadelphia Subway - A Challenge For Septa To Clean Up The Underground Mess
There needs to be an immediate investigation by every investigative arm of local government to find out how a man died at the hands of teenage attackers at the 13th and Market Subway station. But there is a bigger story. The murder is a stain on Philadelphia’s image. But the killing underscores a bigger problem.
Septa, the transit authority , needs to get to work NOW. While regional rail centers are decent, the El and the Subway line is a portrait of grim life in underground Philadelphia. Most stations are dimly-lit, lonely and scary, and not protected as well as they should be.
The reason most Philadelphians don’t know about conditions underground is that they don’t use the subway lines!
Septa police must be more present. You can’t find them at Market East. They do nothing to protect people from the derelicts who take over Suburban Station at night. The homeless are one problem. The filth and trash that fills most Subway and El stations is a disgrace. The stations are unsanitary and rarely cleaned. Our system makes the New York subway look like like the Orient-Express!
While suburban regional rail stations are picturesque , although dirty, the Philadelphia subway stations look like scenes from horror movies.
The best thing about Philadelphia mass transit is the people who ride it, for the most part lawful and caring. It’s a system that gets you anywhere, but until Septa spruces up the subway stations, gets better lighting, and provides emergency help EVERYWHERE, who not shut the subways down, and everybody can take a bus!
This murder case will resonate. For all the great that is happening in Philadelphia, the conditions underground must be remedied .
My advice: clean up the stations. Put security IN the stations, not outside where most Septa police hang out.
Most of all, brighten them up. This town deserves much better.
Yes Larry, who not shut the subways down. That’s my question, too! Do you proof read your work?
I ride that line every weekday. It’s full of smelly, rude people eating food under signs that say not to eat food. And women who yell obscenities at their two-year olds. And people yakking on NEXTEL wireless devices. And people who push you out of the way as they try to get on the trains. The problem isn’t with SEPTA: it’s with people. People suck, and they are even worse when you put a bunch of them underground in a metal tube.
Also, I guess SEPTA could change it’s name to INEPTA for truth in advertising purposes.
CT, very good.
I was riding the Metro in DC yesterday and it was actually a pretty positive experience.
I was supposed to go to an event in April in the city at the Marriott where this guy worked. I was going to take the train in from the suburbs, then the subway over to the hotel.
This incident just convinced me to stay away. I shouldn’t have to risk my life. More reasons for businesses to stay away from the city.
You may see an increased presence for a while by SEPTA police, but then everyone will forget about it and the union will complain and things will go back to the way they are now and have been for quite a while.
Hopefully the police are smart enough to find out who cut class from Simon Gratz that day (assuming the P.C. police even allow them to take attendance) and arrest every one of them for truancy and keep them until they figure out which of them were involved.
Once they are found, send them to Gitmo - they are no different than terrorists.
I’m sure Larry’s many years utilizing Philly’s mass transit system to Ch’s 6 & 10 (isn’t there a stop right by the buildings?)and commuting from Abington to Ch 3 (oh, the El doesn’t run out there?)makes his insight to this issue more relevant. I’m sure his drawer is full of used up Tranpasses..LOL
In the spirit of full disclosure, how many times have you EVER ridden anything Septa Mr. Kane? In the last 10 years?
And you wonder why Obama’s grandmother felt a little trepidation when she passed a group of young black males on the street. It had nothing to do with racial bias. It was real fear based on reality. Compare that to Rev. Wright. I guess the guy on the subway platform had his chickens come home to roost.
“Philadelphia the City of Brotherly Love”
Ha!Our motto should be “Philadelphia the City Where Brothers are Muggers.” If some of you are offended by my words refer your complaints to the Rev. Jerimiah Wright. He’ll tell you what to do.
excellent spin sir…..way to call for a police state…the local media is gonna make a big deal out of this then septa will use all that money they were bragging about the last 2 weeks to put in cameras and some officer….nutter will get all kinds of gun laws past at least by the end of his term and boom!
police state u.s.a.
wont be the first time
unless im wrong of coarse
hello Larry,
this is a horrible tradegy for this man Sean Conroy and his family and to the city,i’m tired of these young punks walking around the city with there pants down to there knees talking on the cell phones with no-respect for anybody,this guy Sean may have been torn about defending or hitting a minor and then it was too late,I will kick the hell out of a teenager and answer questions later if that is what it takes,also these punks parents should also be held liable if they have a history of truancy or violence,
Larry the mayor must to step-up on prime time T.V. (7 pm) and let the taxpayers know the city will not tolerate this nonsense and that the police will pursue this a hard as if it was a police officer,
also Larry, this 13th and Market stop must be named in memory of Sean Conroy in the near future by Septa and Phila.City.
well,
If they want to clean up septa. there is a strange place to start! the Gallery! there are Half of are school students in there playing hookie every day all day and it has direct access to the El line.
want to know were your kids are? Septa has been trying to catch a bunch of teens
on the subway as well as the El who have been harrassing people and playing with the doors for months! START AT THE GALLERY! Clean that up. Start fines for the stores that let these kids hang there during school hours.
Maybe Septa is not the problem, maybe it’s parents not taking responsibility of raising their children to respect others. And where is the coverage of this being a hate crime? It makes no mention of 4-5 BLACK teens brutally beating a WHITE man but if it were in reverse you know the Reverand Al would be knocking down the door of city hall. I’m so glad I moved out of that hell hole of a city! It’s a shame beacause it could be such a nice place to live.
I escort my 22 year-old daughter when she arrives and departs from 30th st station. the bums approach and harrass her while she waits for her train. the amtrak workers do nothing. it comes down to this, a paying customer peacefully waiting for her train is harrased and constantly has to move away from bums while the up-to-no-good bums are allowed to be in the building. this is why train ridership has been down, paying customers do not want to be harrassed.
In the end, after all of the lip service, nothing will done and it will be back to business as usual in the city of philadelphia. Why? Because the same old politicians keep getting re-elected into office.
It is tragic that this man was killed and I agree whole heartedly that this was indeed a hate crime.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT MAYOR?
Larry blames Septa police -a typical liberal solution. Obama outs his white grandmother as being a racist to turn the tables on black racism. His grandmother took care of him after his black father abandoned him at age two after he lost his sexual interest in his mother. Poor old typical white grandmom is then labeled a racist to get Obama off the hook. The murder of Shawn Conroy sadly makes grandma’s fears the real discussion we need to be having on race. Black on white crime is 139 times as frequent as white on black crime, grandma and every other white person with such fear is completely rational. However, instead of bravely addressing this, Larry wants to blame Septa police! There is no police state in the world that could protect people from such a violent race motivated attack, it could have been anyone of us- except Larry, because he took a limo to NY everyday when he worked there and has not been on Septa subways since the 1970s when he was a beat reporter, so he should really check the self-righteous indignation. In Jena where a noose was hung or Texas where a white man shot black theives black leaders stage outrageous protests. White people need to protest this attack in the same manner. Outside white agitators should be bussed into Philadelpia to stage a peaceful protest about the epidemic of black on white crime. The facts are there, but the liberal white press does not dain to address it. Instead, blame Septa, it’s outrageous and would even be funny if Mr. Conroy’s murder were not such a tragedy. It’s time for a Million White Man March in Philadelpia to bring national attention to this problem. Black men who agree with fighting black on white hate crimes should be invited to join in as its a problem that affects both races, as these boys will be incarcerated (hopefully) for the bulk of their natural lives.
Bernard Goetz was attacked in the NY subway system over 25 years ago in a simlar fashion by five black men with a screwdriver asking for $5 dolars. He responded “I have $5 for eash of you” and blew the living shit out of each of them. Until young black men understand that there is a real risk to their actions, no number of Septa police can make the subway system safe.
I sure don’t have any sympathy for the slugs who attacked Conroy but we need to find out what’s going on with these loons. Attacks are increasing. Most are not a race issue ( black on black) No place in the world seems to have kids as screwed up as we do in the U.S.
Another disturbing aspect is the reference to other people being present but wouldn’t get involved - even to the point of calling for help or notifying the cashier. This is nonsense.
This part of the SEPTA system doesn’t usually have a problem. It’s the city at it’s worst on the street, and then it brings out the bigots and morons who post some of the trash that we see on this blog.
George, if you’re the same George that periodically posts here I am with you. It’s time for the white “million man” march on Philadelphia. Lets get started!!! Maybe Larry can start the ball rolling.
Yes I am Ed, I saw your post and the same thing was on my mind too.
Hey, Larry, are ya feelin’ it?
Sooooo…surprising that Larry did not somehow, blame “guns” for this beating death!
There needs to be an immediate investigation by every investigative arm of local government to find out why you continue to write this poop disguised as a blog.
growing up in Philly in the 80’s I was suject to more rasism than one could imagine, by blacks and whites! beaten up, robbed, everything! we lived in north Philly then to bridesburg, the second or first minority for the burg, HELL! is what Philly is, now I get looks from law enforcement like I did something wrong, rude people, etc. my art has been writer about in our news papers, showing I still love our city. I plan to move this summer for good, somewhere free of rasism and ignorance.
Approximately 3 days have passed since the brutal beating and killing of Sean Patrick Conroy. For those of you who don’t know, this hard working responsible young man who happened to be white was beaten to death by at least for black youths. I have some questions and I also want to make a point..
1. Where are we with the police investigation? One would presume that there is an A.P.P. out on these 4 pieces of trash. If there is, I sure haven’t heard anything. What information has been assertained from the thug that was captured?
2. The story is off of the front page and out of the tv news. Why?
3. How come I haven’t heard a peep out of the mayor or the police chief assuring us that capturing this filth is priority #1?
Here’s my point..
The next time a black person is assaulted by a white person(that doesn’t happen all that often by the way) and you hear them cry about how nothing is being done with the case because the victim is black and the perpetrator’s were white. Remember this story.
Rest in peace Sean
As far as using Septa, I use it all the time …regional rail.. subway.. el.. trolleys.. busses. So don’t give me that :celebrity garbage”
As far as proofreading — I’m busy. So if you find a mistake, let me know. I’m not perfect, but close!
A final note for now: Stop the racism. If you want to argue race, find another outlet.
My world is color blind. Is yours?
Another final note: most of you are right –there needs to be more outrage over the Subway killing.
Larry
Larry, as a “journalist” your headline
“A CHALLENGE FOR SEPTA” misses the whole significance of the tragedy that occurred on that subway platform. It cuts much deeper than your hasty overview of Sean Conroy’s demise. I realize you are a “busy” man but to lay the blame for Sean’s death on SEPTA not only exonerates the “witnesses and bystanders”(who did nothing) but leaves the ones directly responsible for this egregious sin as mere pawns who just reacted to a dimly lit and dirty subway station. Shame on you Larry Kane, shame on you………
Larry , you were much better reading the news than reporting on the news.
Larry, I’m so angry with your grammatical errors I could just shit!
Jay, Larry said he was color blind not blind. What happens when he reads your post? This shouldn’t be a debate whether we love our fellow commuter who has met his end standing on a dimly lit subway platform. We should unite behind Larry’s call for better light bulbs and a cleaner environment. That will solve all our problems.
I agree, we need better light bulbs to see those apes sneak up on us. Great call, Larry.
George and Hulk,
I agree with both of you. Where is the outrage about this savage murder in broad daylight one block from city hall?
All I heard from Michael Nutter was “This is not Philadelphia” Huh? It happened a block away from your office mayor! There is no new update on philly.com or the feeble local tv news about where the police are in this investigation on why these other 3 or 4 murderers have not yet been captured. Do I have to wait to see it on America’s Most Wanted before they are caught? This is disgraceful to Mr.Conroy’s family. As far as the White Man Million Man March, count me in, but let’s not limit it to just men, my wife and a lot of other women are feed up with this city just as much as men.
“this is why train ridership has been down”- Seymore
Ridership is down? Where are you getting your figures? Septa regional rail ridership is at record levels,up nearly 10% in the last 2 years. All other Septa division have also seen moderate increases. Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor ridership likewise is up markedly. We are seeing ridership at levels that the Pennsylvania and Reading Rail Roads never saw.
I made the mistake of riding the train shortly after school was out. Never in my life have I seen such animalistic behavior! Rude obnoxious kids yelling harassing passengers blasting (c)rap ‘music’. I would rather pay big bucks for parking than to put up with the behavior rampant on the trains and subways. I hope they catch all those feral beasts responsible for this senseless murder and give them all the death penalty!
Larry,
You deserve to be sentenced to riding SEPTA for the rest of your life! Why?
Because you completely ignored the racist hate-crime murder of SEAN CONROY, by placing the blame on a dimly lit and under-policed subway station. SEAN CONROY was murdered by hateful, racist blacks, who have no respect for God or themselves, let alone others, especially white people. You probably won’t even post this because I used the word blacks instead of Afro-Americans. By the way, is it politically correct to use the word “white” when talking about caucasian? Maybe we should be called Euro-Americans!
Larry, who are you kidding with that nonsense of your riding SEPTA, especially the el and subway? You do know that the train isn’t called a subway when it happens to go through a tunnel and it doesn’t become an el when it goes over a bridge?
Your liberal, PC article does nothing to address the real issue, which is: Where are these animals parents? That is who failed the city; the parents who don’t care about their offspring enough to instill morals and ethics into their children’s lives. Of course, as a liberal, you can’t see that, it must be society or the government who is at fault for anything and everything.
When you schlepped up to NY all those years ago, did you take public transportation to and from NYC? Were you riding SEPTA (back then the trains weren’t a part of SEPTA) daily as you came back into the city late at night? Even now, do you hop the subway during the morning and afternoon rush hours? Do you ride the buses with our fine students at dismissal? If you are going to do the talking, you better really be doing the walking!
I’ve witnessed many incidents of blacks harrassing whites on the subway. I’ve been a victim more than once. I am pretty confident that this was a hate crime but Larry and the media will avoid the topic and bury the true story.
Larry guess what its only going to get worse until SEPTA decides whether it really wants a police force. Three years without a contract. No raises. We are the lowest paid police officers in the city but we continue to try to keep order down there. Septa continues to lie about crime. That number they keep coming up with in regards to crime, they only report crime that occurs on the subway and elevated, they leave out bus and regional rail. SEPTA needs to decide if they want police or security guards. If they want police they have to treat us like police. These events will continue until conditions change. Why would a person take this job when you can get paid 10,000 more with the city police. Its getting harder and more dangerous to do this job. We need help. Hopefully somebody will step up before god forbid a police officer gets hurt or even killed.
Where is Bernhard Goetz when you really need him!!Concealed carry–concealed carry!!
I OFFICIALLY MOTION THAT A MILLION WHITE MAN (AND WOMAN) MARCH BE HELD SOMETIME BEFORE JUNE 1, 2008. WE CAN MEET AT PENNS LANDING, PROCEED UP MARKET ST., GO AROUND CITY HALL CLOCKWISE AND THEN MARCH BACK DOWN CHESTNUT TO PENNS LANDING. WE MUST DO THIS DURING A WORKDAY. NOON IS A GOOD TIME TO START THE MARCH FROM PENNS LANDING.
THE ONLY PROBLEM, I DON’T THINK THERE ARE ONE MILLION WHITE PEOPLE IN THE PHILADELPHIA REGION WITH ENOUGH COURAGE TO STAND UP FOR THEIR RIGHTS. THE RIGHTS TAKEN AWAY FROM US BY LIBERAL POLITICIANS OVER THE PAST 4O YEARS!!!!!!!
LET’S ROLL!!!!!!!!!!
Larry knows it’s all about the election.
This is Pennsylvania’s 15 minutes of fame. It could have been mine were it not for misspeaking…
Portnoy’s Compliant?
I’m not riding the subway or el again without my bike lock handy.And that’s just for starters.Million White Man March ? I’m in,lets give it a different name though.Those other marches were all talk & no follow up action.Shocking,yes but…..
Being white I agree with other posters mentioning that these punks african american teens are targeting white individuals; it is blatantly clear. Granted kids will be kids and sometimes fights happen, but they are recklessly and fearlessly attacking those they see as the ‘enemy’ for kicks. How many white kids do you hear about beating up a black person for ‘kicks’?
I travel through those areas often and I really refuse to take shit from these kids. The problem is no one has yet beat them down and their time is coming. I call on people to intervene and kick some of these kids back to reality if they see other individuals being attacked. I have no problem with throwing down on these kids because these situations haven’t only concerned me, they’ve filled me with rage that these kids have no respect and no value of human life!
FIGHT BACK and show these punks that stupid behavior is not without consequences!
I’d also like to add that common sense and protecting yourself is a given in these cases. Be aware of your surroundings and if approached by these gangs of kids quickly determine if you are outmanned. If you are run like hell, if they hit you without warning then escape if possible but please defend yourself and please be smart about these confrontations.
ALOT of the time these kids are just trying to get a rise out of you, know when you need to fight and when you need to get away quick. Most physical contact is done to jar you to make the first move, only move on them if they begin to get violent. A shove or push is just to get a rise out of you but a punch or kick means you need to act.
if they hit you without warning then escape if possible but please defend yourself —one to the head–one to the chest–then just walk away.
Well, as much of you agree with larry kane i dont. I Ride on septa every single day to get to school and back and i see police all around 15th street. there is always a police around there also. Dimly lit?..chill u are a funny person, it isnt that light but isnt that dark, its fair enough so people can see. Septa to me is doing a very good job
SEPTA could bolster it’s Regional and Subway rail ridership–and therefore boost it’s “Go Green, Go SEPTA” campaign–by very simple measures. Simply keeping the subways clean, painted and well lit to make them feel more safe and welcoming.
If SEPTA doesn’t have sufficient maintenance crew budgets; they could either enlist many of the community organizations of the many surrounding schools in the Philadelphia region, or better yet utilize those sentenced to community service for offenses to aid in keeping subway and train stations regularly cleaned and painted.