Subway preachers (New York, Lee, York: lease, school, versus)

[jeepejeep]

OK this morning was the last straw! You want to be religious? Fine, Great. You want to believe in Jesus? Wonderful for you. But why do I (an Atheist) and everyone else on the train have to be subject to these screaming (yes SCREAMING), loud mouth,raving religious freaks almost every morning? I know freedom of speech and all that but please! This is beyond annoying, it's infringement of my rights too. They banned loud music on the subways so why is screaming about religion OK?
*Whew* had to get that off my chest!

[Guywithacause]

I am not entirely sure why the MTA allows these people to hijack the trainstations. The MTA is private property, and as such are well within their rights to restrict people from spending all day their screaming, selling, or doing anything other than getting from point A to point B. You should call 311 and file a complaint and they will take action, be sure to include the station, time/date, and the "harassment" of passengers, and security/safety concerns of this "violent, angry" person. It should be taken care of....if not..keep calling.

[SeventhFloor]

best place to see them is broadway-east new york (i know its broadway junction now,but i'm old school).

[009]

MTA NYC Transit - Rules of Conduct

It's clearly against their policy. It's an issue of enforcement and if the authorities happen to be present at the same time as the preacher and/or others. And 311 will do nothing since the MTA is a state agency, not city.

Ever had a preacher inside a bus?

[Guywithacause]

311 does work as it is not just city versus state, 311 is for the city to take action in the city, including the MTA stations. They will alert the police dept and the police can choose to take action or not. I would keep calling if the problem is not resolved.

[Fred314X]

It's true that MTA doesn't enforce its own rules as well as might be expected. But it's also true that passengers don't complain often enough, to the right people. Put in those complaints! New MTA Chairman Elliot "Lee" Sanders happens to be legitimately interested in what passengers have to say. If you can't get anyone else in an official MTA capacity to listen, definitely direct your complaints to him.

[NooYowkur81]

Originally Posted by jeepejeep

OK this morning was the last straw! You want to be religious? Fine, Great. You want to believe in Jesus? Wonderful for you. But why do I (an Atheist) and everyone else on the train have to be subject to these screaming (yes SCREAMING), loud mouth,raving religious freaks almost every morning? I know freedom of speech and all that but please! This is beyond annoying, it's infringement of my rights too. They banned loud music on the subways so why is screaming about religion OK?
*Whew* had to get that off my chest!

If you haven't already done so I'd suggest you invest in a copy of GTA IV. It will help you release some of that built up NYC tension.

[NooYowkur81]

Originally Posted by 009

MTA NYC Transit - Rules of Conduct

It's clearly against their policy. It's an issue of enforcement and if the authorities happen to be present at the same time as the preacher and/or others. And 311 will do nothing since the MTA is a state agency, not city.

Ever had a preacher inside a bus?

One somewhat related question. Why does MTA police seem to pretty much only work at the major hub stations? I mostly see them at Penn Station more than anything. Is it because NYPD has jurisdiction over them? If so, why? Seems NYPD resources would be better used on the streets.

[009]

Originally Posted by NooYowkur81

Is it because NYPD has jurisdiction over them? If so, why? Seems NYPD resources would be better used on the streets.

The MTA police came about from the merger between Long Island Railroad Police and the Metro North Railroad Police departments. That's why you see them at Penn Station or Grand Central or anything that's actually owned by the MTA and not leased to them(the subway system is actually owned by the city. As far as I know, Bloomberg and whoever is going to replace him can cancel the lease at any time from the MTA).

The city(NYPD, before the '95 merger, the New York City Transit Police) has always had jurisdiction to protect the subway system since the '40s.

Your regular precient is not in charged of patrolling the subway system. That's why they have a separate transit division to do that. Same with the projects. Just look at the side of their cars and that will tell you the jurisdiction. A "TD XX" means "Transit District", and "PSA X" means "Police Service Area", or their Housing Police.

[jeepejeep]

Originally Posted by NooYowkur81

If you haven't already done so I'd suggest you invest in a copy of GTA IV. It will help you release some of that built up NYC tension.

Not real enough for me ,Heh,Heh!! LOL! Thanks for your suggestions. I don't own a cell phone so I wouldn't be able to call 311 or anyone else at the time but I will report the info as soon as I get to work/home and hope they will get these people off the trains. I hate cell phones. All the rude people shouting into those things are another annoyance and a reason I'm moving away from this S*&T hole of a city as soon as I retire and going to a small town without all this congestion and rudeness.