For those unfamiliar with the geography of Boston it's something like this: there is one major road in and out of the city on the North/South Axis. This used to be the Central Artery but has been replaced by "The Big Dig" tunnels in recent years. The tunnels, as well as a few other major roads, and one of the two main commuter railway stations happen to be mere feet from the Fleet Center (New Boston Gahden), which is where this years Democratic National Convention is to be held in late July.
The "security plan" for the convention was announced this morning and calls for shutting Rt93 (road that goes through the city) for like 15mi both north and south of the city, and most other major thruways in and around the city during evening rush hours. The commuter rail station used by tens of thousands every day will be shut down for the entire week. The city will essentially be paralyzed, costing the city millions of tax dollars (my money) in lost business and extra security expenses. In a final stroke of arrogance the Democrats that run the state have suspended the local laws that us pee-ons live by when there's no big political hoohah going on, bars will be open all night and you can smoke like a chimney anywhere ya like.....nice.
Oh, did I mention that they just finished building a brand new convention center in Boston? it's only like 2mi from where they are having the convention but it's not sitting right in the middle of the city so 85% of this trouble would be averted if they held it there, but they won't because A) there's not enough bars nearby and B)it's not a stadium style format that allows everyone to ooo and ahhhh at each other.
The proposed solution: take vacation time or telecommute. Riiiiiggghhttt.
So I ask you: Should any political party, group, or event be permitted when it's going to have such a negative effect on the citizens of the place in which it is held? Discuss.
BOSTON -- Organizers of the Democratic National Convention confirmed the worst fears of Boston commuters on Thursday, releasing a security plan that includes closing several miles of Interstate 93 during the afternoon rush hour, along with dozens of entrance ramps to the busy highway.
The latest draft of the security plan, released at a breakfast meeting of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, calls for I-93 to close for the late afternoon and evening hours on the four days of the convention, July 26 to 29.
The highway will be closed from exit 32 in Medford, just north of Boston, to Exit 20, which connects to the Massachusetts Turnpike just south of downtown.
"Those decisions are not make lightly and they are not made in a vacuum," Secret Service security planner Scott Sheafe said.
In addition, northbound entrance ramps will be closed from the southern intersection of interstates 93 and 95, in Canton, to the Mass Pike.
And southbound entrance ramps will be blocked from the northern 95/93 interchange, in Woburn, down to exit 32 in Medford.
State Police Maj. Michael Mucci said car pool lanes will be closed from July 23-30, and eastbound Storrow Drive lanes from Western Avenue to North Station will also be closed.
To help ease the volume of traffic, hospitals have agreed to cancel elective surgeries that week.
Many of the security measures come at the insistence of the Secret Service, which has designated the July convention a "special security event." All vehicles in the downtown area, for example, will be subject to random searches.
A preliminary version of the plan, announced in March, called for the highway closure, as well as the weeklong shutdown of busy North Station. It met with widespread complaints from commuters, especially those who live north of Boston and rely on the highway and commuter rail station for access to the city. Many said they would take vacation that week or telecommute from home, rather than brave what is sure to be a traffic nightmare.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino called on companies to give employees options such as working from home, and to encourage carpooling. "I'm asking you to give your employees the flexibility they need to make this work," he told the chamber.
About 24,000 rail commuters use North Station daily, while up to 200,000 motorists use the new I-93 tunnel, the centerpiece of the massive Big Dig highway project.
North Station will close for the entire week, and the four commuter rail lines from the north will stop outside the city and riders will be bused into Boston. Subways will not stop at North Station during the convention.
Inner harbor commuter boat service from Lovejoy Wharf in downtown Boston will also be suspended for the entire week.
Organizers will launch a public information campaign, called "Let's Work Around It," to help commuters cope with the inconvenience.
The "security plan" for the convention was announced this morning and calls for shutting Rt93 (road that goes through the city) for like 15mi both north and south of the city, and most other major thruways in and around the city during evening rush hours. The commuter rail station used by tens of thousands every day will be shut down for the entire week. The city will essentially be paralyzed, costing the city millions of tax dollars (my money) in lost business and extra security expenses. In a final stroke of arrogance the Democrats that run the state have suspended the local laws that us pee-ons live by when there's no big political hoohah going on, bars will be open all night and you can smoke like a chimney anywhere ya like.....nice.
Oh, did I mention that they just finished building a brand new convention center in Boston? it's only like 2mi from where they are having the convention but it's not sitting right in the middle of the city so 85% of this trouble would be averted if they held it there, but they won't because A) there's not enough bars nearby and B)it's not a stadium style format that allows everyone to ooo and ahhhh at each other.
The proposed solution: take vacation time or telecommute. Riiiiiggghhttt.
So I ask you: Should any political party, group, or event be permitted when it's going to have such a negative effect on the citizens of the place in which it is held? Discuss.
BOSTON -- Organizers of the Democratic National Convention confirmed the worst fears of Boston commuters on Thursday, releasing a security plan that includes closing several miles of Interstate 93 during the afternoon rush hour, along with dozens of entrance ramps to the busy highway.
The latest draft of the security plan, released at a breakfast meeting of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, calls for I-93 to close for the late afternoon and evening hours on the four days of the convention, July 26 to 29.
The highway will be closed from exit 32 in Medford, just north of Boston, to Exit 20, which connects to the Massachusetts Turnpike just south of downtown.
"Those decisions are not make lightly and they are not made in a vacuum," Secret Service security planner Scott Sheafe said.
In addition, northbound entrance ramps will be closed from the southern intersection of interstates 93 and 95, in Canton, to the Mass Pike.
And southbound entrance ramps will be blocked from the northern 95/93 interchange, in Woburn, down to exit 32 in Medford.
State Police Maj. Michael Mucci said car pool lanes will be closed from July 23-30, and eastbound Storrow Drive lanes from Western Avenue to North Station will also be closed.
To help ease the volume of traffic, hospitals have agreed to cancel elective surgeries that week.
Many of the security measures come at the insistence of the Secret Service, which has designated the July convention a "special security event." All vehicles in the downtown area, for example, will be subject to random searches.
A preliminary version of the plan, announced in March, called for the highway closure, as well as the weeklong shutdown of busy North Station. It met with widespread complaints from commuters, especially those who live north of Boston and rely on the highway and commuter rail station for access to the city. Many said they would take vacation that week or telecommute from home, rather than brave what is sure to be a traffic nightmare.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino called on companies to give employees options such as working from home, and to encourage carpooling. "I'm asking you to give your employees the flexibility they need to make this work," he told the chamber.
About 24,000 rail commuters use North Station daily, while up to 200,000 motorists use the new I-93 tunnel, the centerpiece of the massive Big Dig highway project.
North Station will close for the entire week, and the four commuter rail lines from the north will stop outside the city and riders will be bused into Boston. Subways will not stop at North Station during the convention.
Inner harbor commuter boat service from Lovejoy Wharf in downtown Boston will also be suspended for the entire week.
Organizers will launch a public information campaign, called "Let's Work Around It," to help commuters cope with the inconvenience.
