Guardian Angels Not Enough - Septa Must Declare War on Subway Intimidation
The Guardian Angels have a decent record of assisting police in nabbing big city criminals, but if you think they will make a big dent in underground anxiety in the Subway and the El, you might want to think again.
It is Septa’s responsibility to keep a safe environment on public transit. We pay some of the highest fares in the nation and Septa has only two subway lines. I’ll tell what the problem is: transit police spend most of their time walking outside of stations, not inside. When was the last time you saw a Septa cop on a platform, or in a train. I mean, again, there are TWO subway lines, one of them, the El, is a subway surface line! That should be an easy terrain to cover.
The problems on the trains are simple fear. People are afraid. As long as people are afraid, they will not ride, preferring instead to take busses, which are fine, but slower. The second problem is that the people who govern Septa, for the most part, don’t ride it. I challenge them to walk with me through the subway concourses in the early evening. They’ll get the picture.
For those of you, narrow minded as you may be, who suggest I’ve never seen the inside of a subway or El station, get a life! I use Septa all the time. The price is right . I get free transit on the Septa city division, and it costs me a buck on regional rail. I’m of age, as they say. But I traveled Septa before my discount took effect. I have to say the regional rails are the best kept secret in the area, and the city lines are not bad. BUT SEPTA NEEDS TO CLEAN UP THE STATIONS AND GET THE SAFETY ISSUE STRAIGHTENED OUT.
As I said before, the best thing about the I-95 mess, is that it got people to ride Septa. But if they have a bad experience, they will not be back.
SEPTA in itself does not have the where with all to fix the secure problem. Yes they could change lighting, clean trains and stations and increase security but that’s not enough.
Mayor Nutter needs to sit down with the Police Chief and SEPTA to determine what is needed to make the lines and stations safe during operation. He may need help from the Governor.
Too bad they are both more worried about the Primary and positioning themselves for their next job.
hello Larry,
you’re right on the money again,if phila.dreams of being a first class city septa has to make it safe and clean,the septa police have to crack down on the bums and punks on the lines,then phila police have to crack down on the bums and thugs on the street,this should be a very high priority for the mayor,
Larry,as i said last week my son works (wall st.) and lives in New York he feels safer there than here,
and finally, the city and septa should rename 13th and market st, stop in honor of Sean Patrick’s memory,this would be a great way of of getting this city headed in the right direction,
and we need a big name celebrity like yourself Larry to get the ball rolling with a on-line petition presented to the mayor and septa for action.
larry,this is an election year,not just for president but congressman/woman.They have programs that will help SEPTA.Former congressman Bob Borski did a lot for the frankford elevated line,Stations renovated,the Bridge Street renovations.This is the time to be demanding whatyou want and need.If they want to be elected again.
Yoy would think with the price of gas being what it is, that Septa would be pushing hard to attract more customers, but they seem to not care at all.
It’s like take it or leave it, we’re not changing. Take your life in your hands to save a few bucks, I think not.
Larry, since you are a regular subway rider your challege to Septa leadership has credibility. However, why don’t you invite them on your CN8 show to discuss along with the police commisioner and/or mayor. That would draw much more attention to this matter and Sean Conroy’s death could be the flash point to help get this fixed. You could play a critical role in making this happen, given your local gravitas and regular use of the Septa system. Don’t let Marc Howard or Larry Mente beat you to this story, it’s your idea, now run with it!
Larry,
I agree with George,make it happen Larry this will be a front page story.
Larry sorry to say this will be my last post to the Larry Kane Report.
Maybe SEPTA could pay for more security if they didn’t get bamboozled into giving away free transportation to all public school students in the City.
Don’t get me wrong. SEPTA’s great. I love going into the Broad Street concourse in the early evening and seeing homeless people pooping on the floor. I’ve never seen that in any other city’s transit system. I also like walking past One South Broad and smelling urine from the stairways to the concourse. Right next to City Hall. How fitting.
jack russell.why will this be your last
post to the larry kane report.?Are you disgusted or discouraged?
Larry, why don’t you wake up and smell the urine. The only thing you were ever right about was the rise of John McCain. Even though you threw out just about every other name that justified consideration for president.
On this issue you are so far off the mark that you might as well be a homeless subway dweller trying not to get pee on his pants while he relieves himself on the subway stairs.
You can’t cover this story without mentioning the juvenile animals that committed this inhuman act.
Does anyone have an update on the Sean Patrick Conroy investigation? This story faded into history two days after Mr. Conroy’s tragic death. It is pathetic the way the city and the media is handling this. Where is the outrage?
Does this mean I’ll be the top dog barking up the wrong tree?
Juno, me thinks that jack russel has actually tried to be funny. The April 1st joke is on us. What a clever guy he is. Unfortunatly I think he WILL be back.
Your still top dog in my book.
I’m masturbating right now… April Fools! I already did twice today.
This is a perfect example of why people are deluded into thinking that the police (whether SEPTA, Phila, or any other security apparatus)can be relied upon to protect you, your family or the public at large.
Learn to depend on and protect yourself it’s the only real sure way of insuring your safety against those who would do you harm.
Learn how to, be aware, and don’t hand over your safety and security to others when you are your own best resource.
rut-row
Thinking about it, I wonder why the story about the cop who was shot at Dunkin Donuts a few months ago caused so much public outrage among police officers charged with protecting the public, whereas this murder of a citizen hasn’t produced jack squat from them. You may be on to something, Stiv. Why don’t the police get upset and have marches and rallys when the people they’re charged with protecting are killed? And where is the media coverage? A cop getting shot in Dunkin Donuts is hardly more newsworthy than a commuter being killed by roving thugs in a SEPTA station. And yet the former gets gratuitous amounts of coverage and the latter gets nearly nothing. The media outlets are bunk.
Furthermore Larry, while you get free rides on SEPTA I suppose you want me to pay for all of this extra protection?
Let me get this straight. I don’t use SEPTA yet my tax dollars pay for this system to cart you around for nothing and in return you make further demands thus exacting more dollars from the public to pay for the assurance that you will arrive at the next stop safely. Now that takes a lot of chutzpah.
BTW Larry haven’t you learned how to reset your clock yet?
Larry is too busy for this blog. He can’t check spelling, reset clock or add daily blogs. His VCR clock at home is still flashing… Too busy riding SEPTA I guess…
When my mother became ill last year, I experienced first-hand the city’s public transportation shortcomings. Ever try to find a bus, cab or car service in Northeast Philly late at night? Or ride the El at 2 am because you have to get back to NYC after spending the day in an emergency ward and you have no other options? Like everyone else, I gave up and rented a car and - of course - sat in traffic on 95 and 76. Glad to see Larry’s taking on this issue. In NYC, the subways rebounded after the police adapted a no-tolerance stance to fight petty crime and fare-beaters. Philly should do the same. More riders mean more revenue for the system. In the long-term, the city should overhaul both lines and create EXPRESS trains. In NYC, can go from 59th street to 14th street in less than ten minutes during rush hour. People will use SEPTA if it’s safe, saves time and is valuable. A ten minute express ride is a lot easier to manage than 45 scary minutes on the El with a weird group of thugs, drunks and homeless people (and absolutely no cops in sight!).