Oh No, Accountability?
From the comments:
- Hey SCC.
Let the troops know that the CTA special ain’t what it used to be. Had the 0500 start today and boy was it an absolute disaster. You have a take home car? Not using it. You brought a car? Not using it. They are dropping you off in vans to your posts. You’re on a fixed post and high visibility the entire tour until your uber van picks you up and drops you off. They are being heavy on the spars for not being on post. My sergeant was actually watching us on pods today to make sure we were on the platform.
You might get lucky and get the subway but if not you’re out in the cold, on a platform fully exposed to the elements. Full stop. Anyone that’s got special next coming weeks, bundle up heavy. I am not exaggerating. Oh you also can’t pick your assignments or your partners.
As for lunch, you are eating in the area of your post. And if you want, you can take the CTA to your lunch destination but don’t go “too far”.
Um, have you seen how "safe" the CTA is lately? How many physical attacks are occurring? Robberies? People getting pushed onto the tracks? Maybe someone being set on fire?
High visibility is kind of the driving force behind it all. And sergeants are supposed to make sure you're where you're supposed to be.
Here's an idea - if you don't want it, don't sign up for it.
But it might be too late to save the CTA:
Less than 15 hours after CTA officials announced a plan to put dozens of additional Chicago cops and private canine security teams on the city’s bus and rail lines, the U.S. Department of Transportation on Friday threatened to withhold federal funding if the agency does not come up with a “more aggressive crime reduction” plan.
Friday’s letter from the Federal Transit Administration directs the CTA to craft a new “Security Enhancement Plan” with what it called more aggressive crime reduction targets and stronger countermeasures. If CTA does not comply within 90 days, the FTA said it will withhold up to $50 million in Urbanized Area Formula funds — roughly 25% of the money allotted to the agency.
[....] CTA unveiled its new security surge on Thursday evening. The plan relies heavily on CPD’s Voluntary Special Employment Program, which pays off-duty officers to patrol trains and platforms. CTA said it will expand the program from an average of 77 officers per day to 120, a 67% increase that CTA framed as a significant investment in rider safety. The plan also adds dozens of private canine security guards to rail stations and trains, along with additional personnel from a handful of suburban police departments that have similar arrangements.
This could actually be an opportunity to slap Conehead around if everyone DIDN'T volunteer for CTA Special Employment. It's technically NOT a job action, since it's 100% voluntary and you aren't paid by the CPD - you're paid by the CTA and you gain Social Security credits, so it protected from the penalties that might be assessed in the face of an actual job action.
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