Mirror Image February 16, 2008
Posted by Webmaster in Black Crime, St. Louis Local.comments closed
It seems like the fact that St. Louis’s most notable racial minority has a hard time behaving itself in and near public transportation facilities and vehicles is causing a change in Metro’s security strategy.
Safe passage for Metro riders
Metro plans to put more armed guards, with more law enforcement experience, at its MetroLink light-rail stations.
The Wackenhut Corp., based in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., took over security and fare enforcement duties from Whelan Security this month. Under Wackenhut’s three-year, $13.1 million contract, it will hire security guards with prior law enforcement, security or military police experience. Some will have police academy training.
Metro officials say the agency ratcheted up armed security in the new contract because MetroLink trains now carry more people over a wider area than they once did. Officials also cited the need for stepped-up security after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Oh, you’re talking about those terrorist attacks on September 11, 2007? If they’re referring to that other “September 11,” I hate to break the news to you, but that was almost six-and-a-half years ago. Isn’t it a little late?
Ultimately, about 80 percent or more of the security guards will be armed, compared with about 20 percent under the previous security contract, McCuller said. Guards with weapons will have to be licensed in Missouri and Illinois to carry them throughout the two-state Metro system. Fare inspectors will not be armed.
But no armed guards for the regular buses. They need those and bullet-proof glass in the worst way.
Some riders said armed security guards were unnecessary.
“I’m not sure guns are the right answer,” said regular MetroLink rider Rosalind Brown of St. Louis. “That might encourage others to have guns.”
And what should the security guards be armed with? Spitballs? </Zell Miller>
Have a Cookie, Dave February 16, 2008
Posted by Webmaster in Black Crime, Black Racism & Bigotry.comments closed
NY lawmaker apologizes to Kirkwood
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A New York lawmaker apologized for making a petulant allusion to a rampage at a town hall in Missouri while sheriff’s deputies were escorting him and fellow protesters out of a heated public meeting.
“And you guys wonder why there’s violence, you guys wonder why. You wonder why a guy in Missouri goes and shoots some damn body,” state Assemblyman David Gantt remarked as he was led out of Monroe County’s legislative chambers on Tuesday.
(snip)
Gantt said that he intended to get across a message that people who are shut out of decision-making will act out. But he insisted that he has always preached nonviolence and said the Missouri attack was clearly wrong.
I wonder if one NYS Assemblyman David Gantt ever had a nickname. If he did, I wonder if that nickname alluded to a flat, round, circular cake.
As for the substance of his remarks, I hope by now you can knock that slow meatball out of the park.
