46 Million dollars rubber stamped through the MTA, with only one meeting…to fight the war on terror

The MTA has been having lots of hearings on lots of things, but not on 46 million dollars just approved to have gates installed.

This is why I don’t go to meetings. Public hearings are to make people think they are doing something, sort of like voting for a president. These are all things that make the average person feel useful. I don’t like feeling useful, I like being useful, because feelings just let the wheels of bullshit continue to turn unchallenged.

I like to say, “The shit you splashed on me stinks; you stupid fucker.”

Will it do any good? Who the fuck knows, but at least I said something. At least I can say, “I told you this was all complete bullshit.” Sort of like I predicted the crime wave that is occurring right now.

Karen you owe me twenty bucks.

46 million dollars for a ten year contract (and you know that’s a low ball estimate that number is going to grow) to catch 5 million dollars annually, even though 27 million dollars is spent on towing cars off the freeway annually.

The contract was gotten by Cubic Inc, instead of Tutor Saliba which if you look into it Roger Tutor (the President) builds lots of things in LA from rails to schools. If you see construction going on in LA’s public entities I’ll bet you a dollar the trucks say Tutor Saliba, 

I guess Roger Tutor pissed someone off.

Some info: Cubic Transportation is a transportation and defense firm founded in 1951 it’s owned by Walter J Zable. I’m letting you know all of this so you can worry about something relevant, because a rail that’s not going to get built, which I’m sure the expo line is not going to get built is a waste of your time, but this, this is a big fucking deal.

One of Zable’s recent contracts:

"The defense segment of Cubic Corporation (Amex: CUB) has received a $18.7 million order for Engagement Skills Trainer 2000 (EST 2000) small arms training systems and simulated weapons for the U.S. Army and the Army National Guard. "From Cubic Inc, PR page.

53% of the veteran suicides after coming home from Iraq were members of the National Guard.

It’s headquartered in San Diego. Didn’t Blackwater want to move to San Diego?

One of the forces that drives the Cubic Inc is the “War on Terror.”

Oh that’s fucking fabulous, so we’re going to have gates put in by a guy that invents and implements war games and the public transit riders get to be used as guinea pigs in some kind odd chess match, like Trading Places but much more scary..

I’m thinking there should probably be a freakin meeting about that? But maybe I’m just crazy and negative.

Now keep in mind this has already happened. There will be no hearing, there will be no meeting. It’s done. This "war game, fighting terrorism" freak has a huge contract to operate gates in LA that we don’t need because of what exactly?

The MTA doesn’t care about hemorrhaging money. It doesn’t get it’s money by profit it gets it’s money by hemorrhaging money aka gov’t welfare, so what are the gates really for?

Why does someone who builds smart weapons have to implement our gates?

Hey don’t know about you, but I for one would be pretty interested in the answer to those questions.

So Roger Snoble feel free to email me at browne@shametrainla.com.

Also I sort of think those meetings that they had were what they call in the military diversions and I'd also think twice about accepting and using tap cards.

Browne

Comments

[EL CHAVO!]

I can't believe they've already started with the excuse that the gates will help against terrorism, cuz you know, terrorists refuse to buy bus tokens.

[browne]

El Chavo,

Exactly!! Terrorist whether they are the real or imagined kind don't buy tap cards or tokens, sort of like how they don't buy guns in the legit way.

This is all away that they can keep tabs on people and invade our right to privacy and civil rights.

I can't believe Yvonne Burke actually went to the "War on Terror" as to why to approve this.

"“Metro remains the only subway operator in the country to operate a barrier-free system,” said Yvonne B. Burke, Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metro Board member. “That freedom has come at a significant cost to the agency’s bottom line as a result of fare scofflaws. This initiative will pay for itself, makes TAP possible, and further hardens our system to potential security threats.”

IS SHE FUCKING INSANE? I've tried to stop using fuck so much, but FUCK, these people make it so fucking appropriate.

And we know she's talking about terrorist and not gang members, because which location do you think you're more likely to get killed by gun fire, the bus or the rail?

Has anyone ever gotten shot at a rail stop, ever in the 17 years of it's existence.

So the security has nothing to do with the gangs that run certain places in NorthEast LA and South LA, heck 7 people just got shot at a busstop, but I'm going to bet no security is going to be beefed up there by METRO...

Browne

[BusTard]

The last time I were living in New York, the MTA and NYPD got together to have random checks on straphangers' handbags, satchels and backpacks.

Were one a suicide bomber, which is what the random checks at subway stations were supposed to discourage, then the great crowds gathered at the turnstiles awaiting the not-so-quickly moving NYPD officers' meticulous searches were no less a target than those on any given train car.

Moreover, any determined terrorist would have to do no more than observe that a crowd had gathered outside the turnstiles and elect to take a bus one stop away and still make his targeted bombing/poisoning/whatever time.

The entire affair was one that from the outset was recognised by New Yorkers as nothing less than dim-witted. Nevertheless, it continues to this day. No suicide bombers have been caught, and presumably, none have tried to do what can too easily be done in the absence of a total web of "security" checks being set up. And were such a web cast, it is obvious that one need but detonat a bomb among those caught in it.

The entire idea of the L.A. MTA's turnstile programme is a farce, especially in the way it was rubber-stamped. The enourmous costs, even as the sytem itself needs to be far better maintained, are astounding. Finally, it is a darce owing to those responsible - chief among them Roger Snoble - need to be held accountable.