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October 07, 2005
Slightly Less Jaded Than Two Days Ago
Each day on my way to and from work, I hear the following automated announcement from the Metropolitan Transit Authority: "passengers are advised that their backpacks or large parcels are subject to random search by police. Thank you for your cooperation."
Yesterday morning I marveled how hollow these proclamations had become. Back in July and August, in the wake of the London transit bombings, police actually did search bags, and I even had mine checked twice. But for the past month or so, nothing. Any terrorist recently scouting the subway or commuter rail systems could be relatively confident that no bag searches would take place.
Then, about 7 hours after I had these thoughts, New York City announced it had new(?), specific, and admittedly somewhat daunting threats to our subway system.
To get to my job I arrive by comuter rail at Grand Central Terminal, whereupon I immediately board the Shuttle subway to Times Square. From there I board a train to the Manhattan's other major rail hub, Penn Station, which is located next to Madison Square Garden. I spend the remainder of my day 24 stories above, at Two Penn Plaza, and at 5 p.m. repeat the above commute in reverse.
This means that every day I pass through three likely terrorist targets...twice...during rush hours. Plus, I pretty much stay above or around one of those targets all day.
That's somewhat disturbing, to say the least.
Everybody Loves Raymond
On the flipside, if there's one thing that gives me some feeling of safety, it is that we have Raymond Kelly as our police commissioner. I first learned of Ray Kelly's wildly impressive resume while writing an article on homeland security in 2002.
Last month I suggested he be named to replace Michael Chertoff at DHS, since he actually knows something about security, and has experience coordinating local, regional, national, and even international law enforcement efforts. But now I think, shit, let's keep him in New York. Lacking confidence in DHS, the FBI, or the CIA to fully intercept and/or thwart direct threats to New York City, Kelly has created an international intelligence unit within the NYPD. It's led by an ex CIA agent, and has operatives in London, Israel, Singapore and, soon, Jordan.
Still, while I am not well studied in the acturarial sciences, I can count, and the numbers regarding my commute and workday give me pause. I travel by train and foot through major New York targets 30 times a week during rush hour and spend about 35 hours a week in a cubicle above one. I'm not sure how much longer I'll do this and I'm all but certain that if a New York falls victim to its version of London's July transit attacks, and I'm not killed, I'll quit my job and figure something else out.
Posted by MJuhre at October 7, 2005 10:31 AM