Chill Street Blues
By Keith Boykin, in pop culture
Tuesday, December 20 2005, 10:08AM
Now I have seen it all. I moved to New York in June of 2001, and since that time I've lived through September 11 terrorist attacks, a citywide blackout, and now the New York transit workers union has elected to strike, halting a bus and subway system with 7 million riders just five days before Christmas.
I can already see the t-shirts on sale on 125th Street next week: "I survived the New York Subway Strike." And I can imagine the headlines in the tabloids for the next few days, as every song and cliché about New York is resurrected to symbolize the situation. Call it the Hill Street Blues. You can't take the A train cause there ain't no love in the heart of the city. So pull out those old vagabond shoes and take a walk on the wild side.
I have a suggestion. I sympathize with the transit workers but I also feel for the millions of New Yorkers who won't be able to get to their jobs or move around town. I don't know if anyone is listening, but I recommend the transit works carry out a progressive strike for several weeks. That means the strike should progress from one day this week to two days the next week and three days the following week and so on. That way the union gets to flex its muscles but the public is less likely to turn on them, which unfortunately is bound to happen any day now.
Until then, we're stranded or forced to walk, bike or bum a ride during one of the coldest weeks of the year. So welcome to the Big Apple. If you've lived through all this, you might as well be a native New Yorker. As the song says, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.
Comments conceal
Bernie
December 20 2005, 12:04PM
Lucky for me I'm on vacation through the end of the year and headed out of town tomorrow.
We'll survive.
castiron
December 20 2005, 12:05PM
Alas, we see eye to eye on at least one issue.
James
December 20 2005, 1:30PM
My partner and I are traveling to NYC in two days. I hope we can survive the strike.
mickevwms
December 20 2005, 3:36PM
Living in Philadelphia (all of my life), you learn to understand a transit strike.
jazzi
December 20 2005, 7:33PM
I sympathize with the workers. Times are hard & rent in the city ain't cheap. The cost of living is going up every year, but the management of MTA expect people to get by on the same nickles & dimes while managment enjoys an ever increasing salary. Millions (MILLIONS!!!) of people ride the buses & trains of the MTA everyday. Think about how much money that is. Even with maintenance cost & so forth, it makes no sense why MTA management can't pay the workers a decent salary & benefits. No one is asking to get rich, just to be paid enough so that they don't have to live from paycheck to paycheck. These people provide a valuable, vital service to New York. I think they deserve pay that is commensurate to the service they render.
A lot of people are hurting because of this. I suspect that by the end of this week, the tide of public opinion will turn against the strikers. A lot of people are pissed already & it's only Tuesday. I wish the workers all the best & hope & pray that the end results will be in their favor.
K
December 21 2005, 12:57PM
I am visting NYC for the first time over the holidays. I hope that all this is over by the time I get there. A brotha has no idea how to get from point A to B. I wish MTA had told me this last week, when I called. I know the cabs will be my best friend. I guess if you don't treat your employees well they will STRIKE BACK! I am glad that the ATL doesn't have to deal with transit problems. I don't think we as Southern folk could handle it.