Hey, there! Log in / Register
Globe gets results: Garden security guards can't play tough guys with homeless in North Station anymore
By adamg on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 9:09am
Transit Police will step up patrols in North Station and Boston Garden security guards will no longer be allowed to eject the homeless from the train station following the Globe's report on how some security guards apparently took out their aggressions on homeless people in the station.
Neighborhoods:
Free tagging:
Ad:
Support Universal Hub
Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution.
Comments
How about accelerating the connecting tunnel?
Oh wait, I forgot. That's impossible. It's far more important to help a private developer save on construction costs than it is to provide shelter to millions of people.
Of course, if they had the tunnel they'd also have 4+ transit officers freed up to do something other than act as crossing guards.
They could dump the Transit Police officers
on "crossing guard" duty tomorrow. As all they do is mimic the operation of the traffic lights anyway, there would be no adverse impact on safety if they went away.
I've got to disagree, cars
I've got to disagree, cars and pedestrians run the lights there all the time. With the excess of people crossing from the subway to the commuter rail cars would never get anywhere with all the J walkers. Speaking of crossing guards, they could really use one here: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.3623384,-71.0584026,20z
According to Stephanie Pollack
So why was private security violating this policy on a regular basis? Who made that decision and why are they not being prosecuted?
Why?
Dear anon (is there anything as gutless as an anonymous commenter?):
"The Garden is owned by Delaware North and hosts games by the Boston Bruins and the Boston Celtics."
Dear John
If you actually read the article provided by Adam in the link, or if you had any awareness of this situation as reported in other media, you would have realized that the ejection occurred at North Station, on MBTA property, and not the Garden.
Suggestion-The next time you want to be so pompous and hateful as to call someone else gutless, at least have your facts straight you clown.
Look at the map
Check out the map accompanying the story and the previous article about the "thin line" the paid detail covers.
I don't understand your comments. My criticism was of someone who was "anon", as most of you are.
That had nothing to do with the topic.
* My criticism of "anon" comments is related to the whole state of the world rn, tbh. It may not make sense to you but somehow I felt it did. Just everyone pull up your grown-up pants and contribute to change, don't just sit there, for Christ's sake.
You are wrong again John
The map clearly shows the victim was sitting in the waiting area of North Station, in an area that has nothing to do with the Garden. Pollack stated he had the right to sit there and not be questioned. It doesn't matter what area was covered by the paid detail. You refer to another article, not referenced here. I can only guess it was a previous post from days ago, also referencing a Globe article. There was no map in either article showing the exact area that private security was allowed to patrol. Even if the private security was in the approved area, who, if anyone, approved their power to eject someone sitting there in violation of what Pollack stated was T policy?
Who, if anyone, authorized private security to make their own rules on T property?
Why are you defending this assault by a security guard? Why are you being so gutless? Admit you made a mistake.
But the MBTA presumably pays
But the MBTA presumably pays rents, so their rules apply as long as they aren't doing anything illegal.
Typically, a landlord cannot kick your friends out of your apartment. If they are doing something illegal in the apartment, the landlord may then have a right to intervene, but otherwise, the landlord has no legal right to do so.
Same things apply to commercial properties. A landlord does not have the universal right to patrol the property of a tenant.
Who owns North Station ?
Does Delaware North own it and lease it to the MBTA? Or does the MBTA own the property known as North Station?
Yes
There are some things more gutless, such as security guards that beat up handicapped homeless people, and posters who defend them.
He wasn't in the Garden. He was in North Station.
Hijacked?
To the real John Keith- It appears that some a-hole hijacked your account. You might want to fix that.
Great, so you want someone to
Great, so you want someone to go to jail for wanting to actually care about the quality of life for the thousands of people that are actually paying to use the facility. These security guards went too far, but I am all for them making the homeless feel as unwelcome as possible (without resorting to violence).
Why?
Why are you for them making the homeless feel as unwelcome as possible?
They are a detriment towards
They are a detriment towards the function of the station. The station is there to facilitate travel, and they are in there not using it for that purpose. They make the bathrooms unusable, contribute to general filth and disorder, and increase operating costs of the station.
The homeless are not all alike.
Basically three food groups:
First, the harmless ones. They don't bother anyone, hold a cup, mostly a danger to themselves. Then there's the ones a bit boisterous, maybe a bit loud, IE, "Gimmie a buck!" but not a real danger. Then there's the bad ones, they pass out at noon (or any other time) and come up swinging. Any cop, governmental or private, should get to know them personally in a hurry.
It makes a difference.
Oh, and he would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for those damn meddlesome cameras...
PS: These boundaries aren't carved in stone and can shift at any moment.
That's the thing. The
That's the thing. The homeless are all addicts or mentally ill in some way. The same guy who is "nice and harmless" most of the time can turn into a belligerent prick (or even downright dangerous) on some days. There was a homeless guy that we "adopted" at my old job, we even gave him the access code to a locked outside area we had so he could sleep and store his shit more safely after he complained of getting robbed by other homeless. He was very nice 90% of the time and would keep that locked in outside area very tidy, even cleaning up messes that were not his, but occasionally he would get into a mood and would randomly try to fight anyone that came near him.
Which agency do you work for?
You seem to be such an authority on homelessness ...
Lack of permanent address is irrelevant
In each case, said person purchased something from one of the vendors in the station. hello?
NYC takes a hard line on the
NYC takes a hard line on the homeless hanging out in railroad stations.
The only seating is in small waiting areas with a full-time attendant who asks to see your train ticket. And it's illegal to sit anywhere else (i.e. on the floor).
It's too bad things have gotten to that point, but IMO it's better than the alternative.
Firsthand experience
This is very rarely (and even then, halfheartedly) enforced.
Great Job Globe reporters/Bad Job Police
Charles Dickens would be proud of your tale of the story of two cities. The reporters did their job located several witnesses and found the poor men and women who had been brutalized.
Does anyone really believe the tale of rogue security guards coming up with the rule if you don't have a ticket you get thrown out on your arse. The Police claim they couldn't locate the victims, lost the videos and ignored the complaints filed by several passengers. Who gave the security guards the authority to eject the homeless from North Station in the first place.
Don't Blame BPD
They investigated as soon as The Globe tipped them off.
Blame the TRANSIT police for not prosecuting the thugs.
Could this be a precedent
Could this be a precedent setter to finally rein in the weirdo security guards that ceaselessly canvass the bus terminal demanding to see people's tickets or I.D. ? Let's hope.