| Author |
Message |
    
themp
Citizen
Username: Themp
Post Number: 431
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 3:41 pm: |     |
What about this republican convention (speaking of the need for shovelling sidewalks) next fall? How will it impact our QOL (as commuters) to have all these people in Midtown? I am going to take my one week vacation to coincide. Any thoughts? |
Dave
Citizen
Username: Dave
Post Number: 6241
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 4:05 pm: | |
The limos will back up the streets, but mass transit should be fine. |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1594
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 4:11 pm: | |
Democratic National Convention is at the Fleet Center in Boston is right at North Station which is where commuters from the North Shore commute in to. It has already been decided that North Station will not be open during the convention and commuters will have to take bus service. I doubt that all trains will be canceled in and out of Penn but I am sure it won't be "fine".
Luckily, the convention is the week before Labor Day and my office is closed that week. |
themp
Citizen
Username: Themp
Post Number: 432
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 4:24 pm: | |
I was wondering if there might be a lot of extra riders on the train, too. Reporters staying in NJ? (lobbyists will be at the Waldorf no doubt). |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1971
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 5:37 pm: | |
It will probably be a nightmare; security checks, extra people on the trains. Expect trains to be held if Bush wants to blow his nose anywhere in the vicinity of Penn Station.
Taking vacation is a good idea. What are the exact dates? |
susan1014
Citizen
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 77
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 6:25 pm: | |
I've read a New York Magazine article discussing concerns over security at Penn Station...having the convention right on top of a major transit hub has them concerned, but they had not yet decided what to do about it. I'm expecting a mess. Don't forget protest groups too!
Since my spouse rides the train, works in Penn Plaza, and doesn't like the guest of honor, we are seriously considering vacationing that week. I need to check the date and get it on our office calendars! |
susan1014
Citizen
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 78
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 6:32 pm: | |
Looks like it is Aug 30-Sept 2. Unfortunately, this week is when school starts (the 2nd or 3rd, depending on grade). So it isn't a super week for a family vacation. |
themp
Citizen
Username: Themp
Post Number: 441
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 6:51 pm: | |
Think we can rent our houses to some Japanese reporters for big bucks? I know people who did that during the Olympics. |
Dave
Citizen
Username: Dave
Post Number: 6250
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 7:02 pm: | |
The weak dollar is hurting the Japanese right now. Go for EU reporters. |
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 314
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 10:32 am: | |
I worked next door to the Democratic convention when they met in NYC (about 10 years ago?). I barely knew they were there. Maybe they only came out at night! They were certainly not riding the PATH trains with us. |
DrFalomar
Citizen
Username: Drfalomar
Post Number: 139
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 10:33 am: | |
Don't forget that there will most assuredly an "orange alert" that week to remind the people they should be in a state of fear only GWB's vigilence can alleviate.
What's sad is, the Republican National Convention is totally irrelevant, a four-day infomercial that will get minimal TV coverage. What would be interesting, though, is if, as a result of its irrelevancy, the reporters instead key on the disruptions and heavy-handed tactics of convention security, showing them to be absurd and politically motivated, in the same way that the reporters at the convention in Atlantic City in the 60s concentrated instead on what a sinkhole that town is, effectively destroying it as a vacation destination. |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1596
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 1:46 pm: | |
Susan -- school starts before Labor Day (the 6th)? |
Jackie Day
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 238
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 1:50 pm: | |
I work just three blocks north of Penn Station and commute in to it as well (naturally). I am absolutely dreading the convention - and not just because of the guest of honor and his horrible cohorts....mostly because of the transit nightmare. I normally go in and out of the Penn Station doors on the northeast corner of Eighth and 33rd just opposite the post office. I can't imagine what they're going to do to my commute. I expect hordes of protesters to be in the way because I read they're going to corral these people in front of the post office -- directly in my way. It's going to be an absolutely horrible week. And I agree with DrFalomar that the whole thing is a total waste of time that will inconvenience hundreds of thousands of people and will truly engage and interest very few of them. |
susan1014
Citizen
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 79
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 3:05 pm: | |
Here's the calendar that I downloaded from the School Board website a few months ago.
I was surprised by the early start -- starting on the Thursday or Friday before a long weekend seems odd, as does having so many vacation and in-service days that school lasts until late june. We did things differently where I grew up... |
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 919
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 5:29 pm: | |
By law or contract (I'm not sure which), the school year can start anytime on or after September 1 and must be completed by June 30th, I believe. That includes the teacher days at the beginning and end of the year. When Labor Day is very late, as happens this year, they have been known to start during the week just prior to Labor Day, in order to finish up in June. The last time this happened, there were many people that did not realize this was the case and a pretty high level of absenteeism in the schools those couple of days. I would think that the district would learn from that and send some flyers home in the backpacks periodically during the rest of this year to call attention to the unusual scheduling. They really need to start soon if they want to inform people before the majority set their summer vacation plans. I have always been surprised at how little announcement is made about the school calendar to the public. It is getting a little better now that it is posted on the website, but what about the people who do not have (or do not take advantage of) internet access? |
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