Ridge speaking at 2pm.

ARGH!!!!!!! I have to transit EWR next week and will be re-entering the USA during the GOP convention at EWR.

As much as this will throw my travel plans out of whack, I'm considering changing my ticket to avoid the NYC area period during the GOP convention; instead of returning into EWR (NYC). Only thing is, I think it might be difficult getting space in F via LAX at this point (using award ticket).

Best,

SDF_Traveler

Press conference in progress now. The announcement was that the alert will be raised to orange, but only for financial services institutions in New York, northern New Jersey, and Washington-- no word yet on travel impacts.

We've been at Orange since 9/11. Nothing new.

Here's CNN's take on it:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/08/01/ter...eat/index.html

At least they isolated it to part of the country this time. It's so stupid to scare tiny little police agencies in rural towns into ramping up security and spending their year's budget (and to ban curbside dropoff/pickup at airports) nationwide just because the government won't release specifics about a threat and calls a nationwide "orange alert."

If NYC has been at Orange since 9/11, how is this new orange in NYC an increase?

Prior to Tom Ridge speaking, a couple of the major stations were saying sectors of NYC and WAS could be going to Red.

Has the christmas tree changed? Perhaps an Orange and then a Super Special Orange for NYC?

If there is indeed a specific threat, I commend the DHS for increasing the alert specifically to the few affected areas. It makes much more sense than taking the entire nation and going up to Orange everywhere.

However, I really don't buy into this color coded alert system and see it as a political tool. Afterall, elections are coming up and we need to make it look like Bush is doing a good job. Alert goes up, attacks are diverted, it goes down, and then Bush praises the system for working and his popularity goes up.

Perhaps there really is a credible threat, but the way the Bush Admin operates and the way the Christmas tree has flip-flopped in the past, I have a hard time buying into it. It's like the boy who cried wolf one too many times.

Ironically, I stepped into the office yesterday for a few hours, and a couple of us were debating how soon it would take for the alert status to go up now that the Democrats had their convention. I wasn't expecting it just yet, but I was expecting it just prior to the GOP convention.

As far as red goes, there is still some speculation in the press it might jump from orange to red.

All I can say is hopefully things will be more relaxed out in Jersey next week and again at the end of the month when the GOP has their convention as I'll be flying via EWR. I'll also be using NJ transit next week when I spend a day in NJ for travel between EWR and areas south. I've been offered a place to stay for the night in the Hamilton area, but I'm not sure if I want to be schleping my luggage around NJ Transit between this area and Hamilton (vs leaving it at a hotel and just making the trip down for an afternoon/evening).

I don't think NJ transit has lowered to the point of random baggage inspections and other forms of harassment yet? (in the name of security).

I'm not sure what affect these new alerts will have on airports, but I have a feeling during the GOP convention EWR has the potential to be a mess, especially US Customs when arriving from a middle eastern nation and having visited Muslim countries (in addition to transiting a Mulsim nation in the middle east, The United Arab Emirates, en-route to EWR) during my travels on this trip (in addition to Australia)... note: Will spend most my trip in Australia, but will be spending time in SE Asian nations prior to returning.

I'm not the least worried about my flights, transiting the UAE, or being in Muslin nations in SE Asia, but I am concerned about hassle re-entering the USA and and strict security... plus my day-trip into Manhattan will likely be a no-go because of the GOP convention as I have a semi-long layover on my return (long enough to go into Manhattan for a few hours from EWR)..

Perhaps I will try to go in to Manhattan and wear a Vote for Kerry / DNC shirt of some type. I was really planning on walking around for a couple hours and doing some quick shopping on my return in NYC. Thanks GOP!

Best,

SDF_Traveler

Something like that. The threats are for specific building in the areas mentioned.

Going to Red exerts and extreme financial burden on Public Safety. Basically it will be complete lock down of an area.

I ride NJ Transit quite often. Last week, they had flyers on the seats explaining the "special rules" that will apply during the Republican convention. One such rule is that no one will be allowed to use overhead luggage racks. Considering that every single seat is filled on most peak trains, this will really be a good trick. Usually, they make announcements not to put luggage or briefcases, etc., on the seats, as people need to sit there!

In addition, every train in and out of Penn Station NY will be inspected before entering the tunnel. Bomb-sniffing dogs will be moving through the trains. Many trains that normally go to NY will be diverted to Hoboken, just to reduce the inspection workload.

It's all nonsense, of course, as usual. Even if someone brought a suitcase-size bomb on board a train, what possible effect could that have on the convention taking place at least 100 feet above the train tracks?

Bruce

It's non-sense????? Madrid, Spain come to mind.

It would definitely scare everyone from the convention. But let's not talk about just one. What if there is a team and several suitcase bombs are in place? Just like Madrid...

Something tells me I won't going into Manhattan!

So instead of a 30 minute trip from EWR, it'll be, what 1 hr 30 minutes to Penn station from the EWR train platform?

SDF_Traveler

Well, these measures are not being done for security of passengers so it is "non-sense". These measures are being done as part of the dog and pony show of security for the Republican Convention which is dozens of feet above the trains.

If this was about security of trains and passengers, we would have more systemic security that made sense rather than this dog and pony show where we run around like chickens with our head cut off.

They could do it on the streets too. Just as many people would be victimized.

Have you seen New York? There are places where there are more people in a room/restaurant/ than there are in a train car.

Kinda shows you how much a waste political conventions are. Think of the public $$ wasted on security (for both parties). It's one big party at taxpayer expense! The old days, things were done in the conventions, and people relied on the information to make a decision. Not the case today.

And tying up 2 major cities.

Madrid comes to mind & it's sad what happened. I spend time in Spain each year and have been at the same train stations in Spain. Sure, it could of been me in the wrong place at the wrong time. I've been in NYC many times, have also been in the Trade Center as well as the Pentagon in DC... all targets... I'll gladly go back to Spain and have no fear of using the trains, when in London (which is quite often) I am a regular on the Underground - it doesn't scare me the least and I'm quite comfortable.

However, all this doesn't leave me scared nor does it justify the window dressing BS being used in the name of security. In essense, they will be shutting down NYC for the convention, as they did with Boston for the convention by making it so damn difficult to travel or get anywhere.

EWR has a great link to NYC via the Air Train and the NJ Transit Service from EWR station to Penn. This exists so airline passengers and luggage can quickly and efficiently get from the city to the aiport and return. With these new "GOP" rules, it'll make the process quite difficult, especially if you have much more luggage than a small suitcase or backpack.

No luggage on the overheads?

Gee, now the transit doesn't sound like a good way to the airport... might as well drive, take a taxi, and just get out of town since the city will effectively be shut down for a multi-million dollar "party". Of course the GOP had to pick the largest city, with three major airports, a major transport hub, and the city where many are still recovering from the horrors of 9/11.

Why do we need to shut down big cities like Boston and NYC for this? Much of Boston came to a standstill, many main interstates closed, public transportation nightmares, etc., to the point where people just avoided Boston and many locals just left.

Why not hold the convention in a smaller city like Lexington, Kentucky, or another college town where convention / stadium facilities exist? It'll not only be a lot cheaper, but it'll result in less hassle for less people.

Fact is, it's in NYC for political reasons -- to capture "what bush did after 9/11 and the fight on terrorism" -- All of this extra security is not for the common person, it's for the GOP convention in the case of NYC. In fact, with all this focus on NYC and these "targets", now would be the perfect time for an evil-doer to hit somewhere else completely unexpected.

I'm sorry, but I don't trust the government. If the government wants to do anything to increase security here in the states, we can pull out of Iraq, let the UN take a major role and we should stop poking our "big stick" into other peoples business, or more specifically oil rich countries. Bush is in Iraq for the oil and to finish daddy's job. If we leave Iraq, the US will become safer... but now we've made an entire mess and completely destabilized the area, making it more dangerous than ever before, IMHO. Saddam wasn't a saint, neither are the Kuaiti rulers that we saved -- but at least he kept the area stable and he was no theat to the USA... none at all. Bush would like everyone to think Saddam was connected to 9/11, which sadly many people believe, but it's just not the case as the known facts seem to dictate -- unless you wish to spin them.

Best,

SDF_Traveler

I would think during the RNC EWR will be a mess since Continental is the
official airline for the RNC...

And I doubt CO will fly into JFK when EWR is closer to NYC...