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| Uptown, Wilson "L" station. Photo: Timothy Fitz/Chicago News Report. |
Loyal Chicago News Report reader, Towanda, sent CTA a link to my post, "Take the train? No. I’d rather take the bus!" - here’s what CTA’s Feed Back Team had to say….
In a carefully worded response, which looks suspiciously like a form letter, CTA says they are working very closely with the Chicago Police Department to keep their riders safe.
Chicago Transit Authority officials also mentioned an increased camera presence at CTA "L" stations, and promised to add more surveillance by the end of the year.
"Additionally, every CTA rail station is now equipped with at least one security camera. All stations will have multiple cameras by the end of the year. These cameras help deter crime and are valuable tools for security purposes," said a CTA representative.
Although cameras deter some criminals, we all know that some sociopaths couldn't care less if they are videotaped committing a crime. In fact, in the age of Youtube, getting caught on camera acting a fool, seems to grant a perverse form of celebrity status.
In addition to ensuring their customers that CTA is doing everything they can to protect their commuters, the beleaguered transportation giant urged those traveling by train, to always remain vigilant, report any suspicious activity, and use the intercom system if you feel threatened.
"If you witness a crime or something suspicious, please give a detailed description of this incident as soon as possible. All CTA trains have a two-way intercom system in each rail car that allows customers to talk to the rail operator. Look for the blue light on the rail car lighting panel and push the operator call button to contact the rail operator," said CTA in response to Towanda's email.
Adding a security intercom system to the CTA trains was a great idea, but who is making sure those systems remain operational?
In December of 2010, I spoke with a female CTA passenger who said a male passenger exposed his penis on the Red Line and masturbated behind her head. The terrified woman told me she hit the emergency call button on the CTA intercom, but the train never stopped moving and she never received a response from the train's conductor.
And how effective is CTA's security staff?
In February of this year, 22-year-old Christopher Buchanan, a former CTA security guard, was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse and unlawful restraint of a 17-year-old male CTA passenger. Buchanan allegedly restrained the young CTA rider, took off the boy's shoes, and rubbed his genitals on the victim's feet.
Adding to CTA's safety issues, in an alarming incident that never made the mainstream news, on April 17, 2011, a CTA security guard was robbed at gunpoint at a down "L" station.
Clearly, the issue isn't whether or not CTA is doing anything to keep their customers safe - the real question is, are they doing enough?
What a crock. There was a camera ON this train, recording, when a battery took place. The video was posted online and brought to the CTA's attention. The CTA's response is, "we're installing more cameras?????"
ReplyDeleteWe don't need another camera. A passenger brought their own. We want YOU, CTA, to do something about it.
I'm trying to find a more upscale word than stupid. But I can't. The CTA's response to this is STUPID.
What an insult! That reply was total BS! Maybe you should have asked them what colors they are using to redecorate the stations. That inquiry probably would have gotten a better response.
ReplyDeleteIt is a form letter. I have gotten 3 of them since the beginning of the year.
ReplyDeleteFace it folks, the CTA could care less about our safety. We should start an email blitz of all the crimes we read about on this site, though I wonder if that will even do any good. The CTA would rather leave it up to the CPD to take care of the crime in, on and around THEIR stations. Fixing the businesses around the CTA stations? Their priorities are way out of whack at our expense.
towanda said: "It is a form letter. I have gotten 3 of them since the beginning of the year."
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought. I didn't think CTA would take the time to draft a person response to such an important issue. :-(
towanda, Jane Byrne disbanded the CTA Police. :(
ReplyDelete....so, let's blame Jane Byrne? Uh, no.
ReplyDeleteYes, let's Jane Byrne, for some of the crime.
ReplyDeletelet's = let's blame :)
ReplyDeleteI can join the party of women who have had men masturbate next to them on the el. Red line, 11 am, small children in the next seat. However, turning and laughing at him seem to do the trick - he ran off that train in a rush.
ReplyDelete"These cameras help deter crime and are valuable tools for security purposes," said a CTA representative.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see them provide some evidence that this is actually true. From everything I have seen, cameras have little effect on either deterring or solving crime, but politicians and bureaucrats seem to love them. They are just another one of those feel-good measures that they can point to in order to show that they are “doing something”, without actually having to really do anything meaningful.