Sunday July 31
A RAPID SECURITY UPGRADE FOR NEW YORK CITY RAPID TRANSIT
WEINER: MTA SHOULD USE SOME OF ITS SURPLUS TO IMRPOVE SECURITY RIGHT AWAY
THREE STEPS WE CAN TAKE IMMEDIATELY: BOMB RESISTANT TRASH CANS, DIGITAL STATION CAMERAS, 9-1-1 SUBWAY CELL SERVICE
New York City - Today, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens & Brooklyn), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, called on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to use some of its estimated $833 million dollar budget surplus on immediate security upgrades for our subways.The MTA is running an estimated $833 million budget surplus this year.
Today, Weiner called on the MTA to use a fraction of the surplus to implement three needed security upgrades, right away.
Bomb Resistant Trash Cans in Every Station - We need trash receptacles in our subway stations to keep them clean, but we also have to take steps to ensure they cannot be used for nefarious purposes. The MTA should install bomb resistant trash cans in every subway station, costing $1,500 a piece, at a total cost of $6 million.
Expanded Digital Surveillance Cameras - In June, the MTA announced that nine subway stops had been equipped with 120 digital cameras, covering all entrances, exits and stairwells. The cost of each camera is $10,000. The MTA should install at least two cameras in every station-more in larger stations like Grand Central and Times Square-- at a total cost of $20 million.
Emergency Cell Phone Service on Subway Platforms - Other world class cities like Washington, Berlin, Moscow, Hong Kong and Paris already provide wireless service to transit riders, but New York doesn't. The MTA should wire every subway platform for emergency cell phone service at a cost of $200,000 per station, or $124 million. Sources: New York Times, New York Daily News, Security Experts.
TOTAL COST: $150 million
TOTAL SURPLUS: $833 million
"The MTA should use the lion's share of its surplus to pay down its debt and reduce fares, but we should use some of it for immediate security upgrades too," said Rep. Weiner. "These are three, common sense steps that will cost a fraction of the total surplus and make our subways safer right away. Our rapid transit needs a rapid security upgrade."
Weiner has pledged to take back control of the MTA as Mayor. As mayor, Weiner will take control of the MTA board by expanding voting members from 14 to 15 members, with 8 mayoral appointees, 4 for the Governor and 3 for suburban counties.
Weiner has proposed several additional security measures for the subways, including:
- Put more transit cops on the beat by returning the NYPD to its 2000 force levels, an increase from 35,000 to 40,000 officers.
- Fight for full funding of the federal Community Oriented Policing Services or C.O.P.S. program that's put 7,000 police officers on New York City streets. Weiner is the House sponsor of C.O.P.S.
- Fight for federal funding to cover the costs of "T-COPS"-the 1,000 members of the NYPD whose work is devoted exclusively to anti-terror efforts.
