July 9, 2004
The Politics of Terror
After Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge told America that there may be terror attacks to thwart the upcoming election as well as the Republican National Convention here, Police Commissioner Kelly immediately assured New Yorkers that we're still pretty safe, saying "There is no specific information of a pending terrorist attack on the RNC or New York City." Commissioner Kelly trusts his information (and the NYPD is getting information from the various other federal agencies) is high quality, so, NYC will stay at our elevated Orange Alert level. The MTA won't be raising their alert level either (Gothamist didn't realize the MTA had alert levels also - maybe we should develop some for ourselves). There are also hypotheses that the terror alert warning from Secretary Ridge was to take some steam out of Kerry-Edwards ticket's big week; we can't wait to see the new poll numbers.
Of course, the convention is causing all sorts of chaos in others ways: NJ commuters can't take the NJ Transit into Manhattan - they'll be going to Hoboken first then taking the PATH in. the NY Times' map showing where and when the various parties are being held during the Republican National Convention is more like a "Places To Avoid" guide. cityrag has been following the terror drills in midtown (with lots of photos, like the one above). Honestly, Gothamist thinks we see a terror drill every day. Wednesday, about thirty police cars, lights and sirens blazing, sped down Sixth Avenue, and this morning, fifteen police cars were parking themselves in a special formation near Grand Central. What happening?
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Gotta love that photo--the "Smack down!" marquee over four and an eight NYPD police cruisers. Though, you really have to wonder if any of these exercises really help "preparedness." Or may be it's just a big city government show for the Republicans.
Wow! What a coincidence. The week that Kerry/Edwards get a boost in ratings, Homeland Security decides to issue a terror alert. Must distract general populace... must distract general populace...
I can't wait until we "capture" Bin Laden...
By the way, I'm not a left-wing consipracy nut, either. It just seems to me that every time there is something bad in the news for Bush (prison scandal, Edwards joins ticket, etc), that a new terror alert is issued...
i've been watching there preparedness drills at various nyc buildings for the past couple of weeks. they are getting really good at parallel parking on the curb! i feel safer already. also, why dont they have motorcycle/bike cops in on these exercises, they can cut through the traffic much faster than those tinted suvs.
Yojimbot - the comment on the parallel parking is hilarious (and true!) the suddenness of this roll out of drills all over the city proves it's absolutely related to the GOP convention (come on, we've been having high level terror alerts in TS for a couple years now) saw over 200 cars at both drills, and there was one single motorcycle. they're not as intimating enough to potential protestors. (thanks for the shout out on the pic hy)
hey city rag, i have some photos of these activities...if you'd like i can email you some...they'd make a nice compliment to you street level shots.(mine are birdseye views taken from up on high).
my terror drill pics:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/brooklyngirl/147474.html
love to post those photos! (splitting town for weekend now but will put up on Monday if anyone wants to follow) thanks Y.
cb your site is cool...great story about you little doggy! also, i've tried to photograph those heavily armed robo-cops but they keep telling me no and making threatening postures.
really funny quicktime movie:
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/presaddress2.shtml
HOLY S! just caught this on WhatISee.com - thyey have a HUGE spread of the drill running through Columbus Circle!!
check it out - http://whatisee.org/
Ah HA! Now I know what that was this afternoon on 42nd St between 5th & 6th. I didn't know what the hell was going on-- a bunch of cop cars parking on the side of the street for about 20 minutes, then all driving off.
Everyone should see Fahrenheit 911 if they haven't already. There's a (Democratic) Congressman who is trained as a psychiatrist. He talks about how the constant use of fear (by Bush) sows confusion and makes the populace easy to control.
Hey, anyone know what's going on at Union Square? I see National Guard sometimes, sometimes police at all odd hours. Then they disappear. Are these drills too?