… will be the day these tables are surrounded by cops, I’m ask to have my bag checked, I say no, I’m told I can’t enter, I tell them I’ll be taking another bus…

… and I either get home on an alternate bus or am arrested.

This image is from the entryway to the Port Authority terminal for the NJ Transit bus I take twice a day. This evening on my way home I saw for the first time tables positioned as shown with the sign. I’ve seen the sign before but never with tables and always pushed into a corner.

There is simply no way I will tolerate being searched on my way to or from work.

Oh… and do you like the “If you see something, say something” sign in the background? Those are all around the subway stations too.

Today, at about 5PM I was asked to have my effects searched by a man in a dark blue uniform who was armed and perceived dangerous.

But like last time I screwed up. My plans have been to say no, ask or say innocently something regarding the yellow line station across the street and go from there. In the least I want to take down the thug’s identification information, snap a few photos and hand out fliers I have printed out from FlexYourRights.org. Maybe walk up to the next 1 station and take it downtown over and over till he threatens to arrest me or actually does.

Sounds easy until you are actually standing there with 3 blue light gangsters staring at you with their hands on their belts… awfully close to pepper spray, a telescoping beating club and a handgun. While at the same time you have dozens upon dozens of people streaming into the station behind you.

This was the first time I’ve seen them setup behind the turnstiles. Normally the are just around the corner, just to the left side or across from them near the help booth and side entrance. So if it wasn’t for the fact that I have an unlimited rides card I would have been out $2.50. Perhaps I need to add that to my script. Asking for my money back.

So in any case all I accomplished was saying no, obviously annoying the thug and having him, after a few seconds of silent contemplation, telling me I had to leave. I said “fine” or maybe nothing at all and proceeded toward the yellow line station across the street. I doubled back in order to take some photos but I couldn’t get a shot through the windows because of the glare and I was not sure I wanted to push it by walking back in and snapping some pics. So I went to the yellow line. Hopped onto the W and went home. The suspected terrorist got away.

It takes most people a reasonable amount of mental perpareness to do what I’m trying to do. Hopefully next time I will be calmer and able to focus on what I need to do.

Back in February I posted about Operation Torch. The New York Times article said: “Officials said the operation would begin in March.” Well, as you’d expect from the government they have just now started their increased militarization of the city.

http://wcbstv.com/…

The NYPD is pulling out all the stops to beef up safety of the subways. On Thursday it launched a new anti-terror effort called “Operation Torch,” but the cost of the program is raising some eyebrows.

The NYPD’s new firepower consists of cops with Mp5 submachine guns, rifles, body armor and bomb-sniffing dogs.

Starting Thursday, five or six teams a day will patrol the major transit hubs in the city in the new program, all thanks to a 50 percent increase in a Homeland Security grant.

“Times Square, Grand Central, Penn Station … the locations you would expect, but not only those locations. The assignments will vary and will be following no discernible pattern,” NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said.

Many straphangers were thrilled to see the city going all the way to protect its citizens.

“It’s a very good idea,” Patricia Knight Williams said. “It’s like a deterrent. It’s going to make me feel safer, much safer, yes it will. It’s a good idea.”

Is Patricia Knight Williams high, retarded or being sarcastic? I’m hoping the latter.

The city’s massive subway system, With 5 million riders a day, has long been considered a potential terror target ever since Sept. 11, 2001.

Similarly equipped NYPD units known as “Hercules” teams have been patrolling the ground on Wall Street, the Empire State Building and other city landmarks.

Everyone seems to like the idea of an added police presence, particularly to fight terrorism on subway platforms, but then when you mention the price tag — $151 million – then people aren’t so sure.

“I think it’s a waste of money,” Michael Rivers said. “If someone wants to put a bomb in the subway how do you stop it?”

“It’s a hard time for a lot of people. That’s a lot of money to spend,” Ellen Payne added.

“Everybody has their opinion,” Kelly said. “We think this is a reasonable expenditure of funds. We’re doing everything that we think is appropriate to prevent another attack.”

Of the $151 million in the federal grant, $30 million will be used for this underground anti-terrorist program for the next two years.

As I’ve pointed out several times… this will do absolutely nothing. Their coverage is too small, they don’t check every entrance. When I was stopped the other day to have my bag search at South Ferry and declined I just went to the Yellow line which had not a single cop in the station.

I’ll be sure to post photos of these roaming gangs as soon as I run into them.