Yep, and all of those confrontational actions can result in someone continuing to not comply, and I have no problem with an officer of the law eventually tackling that person to the ground to make an arrest. Even over a couple dollars.

Yes, everybody should be paying their fares.  Yes, the officers have a right and a responsibility to enforce fare collection, and it's perfectly reasonable for them to confront passengers suspected of fare jumping.  But there's a HUGE range of confrontational actions an officer can take that don't resort to physical violence.  There's a lot of gray area between "backing off" and tackling this woman to the ground, and it's disturbing that you guys don't see that.

 

What exists in that gray area once the person proves to be non-compliant?  Maybe if the officer presents a pair of handcuffs and asks nicely the person will slip them on and escort themselves to the back of the police car, right?

The officer should do what is necessary to make her comply with a lawful order, period.  If that means repeating it louder, fine.  If she still decided she's above the law, she should be detained.  If that means the officer has to tackle her, that's her fault.  She decided she was too important an individual to take two seconds so the officer could do his job. 

 

It is not about $2.00.  Instead of following instructions, she decided to keep walking away.  You don't get to just walk away from the police when they issue a lawful order because you think you're above the law.  I don't care who you are- a poor minority, a narcissistic middle class white woman, it doesn't matter.  The police officer shouldnt be in jail for making an arrest.  That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

 

U indicate that she has decided she is above the law.  I see he show the guy her pass at minimum 2 times and maybe a third when I see the video.  It seems like she complied. He made the call some point after that he didn't like her attitude and was going to flex his cop muscle. And now he's suspended

Yep, and all of those confrontational actions can result in someone continuing to not comply, and I have no problem with an officer of the law eventually tackling that person to the ground to make an arrest. Even over a couple dollars.

 

well their is a reason RTA didn't back their guy and defend him publicly for his response. Because he handled it wrong.

^ Well said. Complaince with lawful orders should not be left to the ordered's discretion.  The entire concept of police disintegrates if so.  The relevant inquiry is if the officer had the legitimate authority and directive to order the pass check.  He did and she didn't follow the order, repeatedly.  Whether you think the officer is better stationed at the top of the stairs or at the bottom, his orders were totally legitimate here.  The two choices at that point were arrest or back off.  I don't think backing off is a viable way to enforce rules.  Otherwise, the rules are voluntary.

 

What I'm trying to say is that this situation likely never would have happened if the officer was placed in a different location than the exit to the station and RTA had a standardized process for conducting the fare checks.

 

Like I've said multiple times, when you are checking the fare card of passengers while they board or are on the train, you aren't treating them as potential thieves as they haven't fully consumed the good they that have purchased. As with so many other non tangible services, this is industry standard. If an officer was placed at the top of the stairs and checked passengers before they boarded it achieves the exact same goal as checking passengers as they exit the station. The only difference is that it doesn't treat customers as potential thieves because they haven't yet consumed the service.

 

Also, what if RTA had a standardized language for conducting fare checks. How different would the outcome have been if it was standard procedure to tell passengers that aren't using a monthly pass, "Please hand me your RTA pass so that I can verify the time stamp." Here, the language is clear and concise what the passenger should do. "Show me your bus pass" is a vague order and it elicited a "smart aleck" response that ended up poorly. Had the initial order been clear and concise, would the outcome have been the same?

 

I'm just stating that this incident clearly shows the many process breakdowns of the fare checks. These are incredibly simple process fixes that RTA could implement to prevent this kind of stuff from happening again.

One thing that's missing in this very good debate and discussion (which I hope GCRTA management is reading!) is the concept of escalation. If a citizen escalates a confrontation, then it no longer becomes an issue of a $5 transit pass. It becomes whatever the citizen (or the officer, if he/she has responded inappropriately) has escalated it to. Police are trained to de-escalate confrontations by calming the citizen, which sometimes requires the use of force. The basic objective of policing is to protect peace and order, or to restore it when disturbed. If an officer's actions causes the opposite to happen then the officer acted inappropriately.

What I'm trying to say is that this situation likely never would have happened if the officer was placed in a different location than the exit to the station and RTA had a standardized process for conducting the fare checks.

 

Why do you say that?  This exact situation could have happened anywhere else, and I'm sure has.

 

Like I've said multiple times, when you are checking the fare card of passengers while they board or are on the train, you aren't treating them as potential thieves as they haven't fully consumed the good they that have purchased. As with so many other non tangible services, this is industry standard. If an officer was placed at the top of the stairs and checked passengers before they boarded it achieves the exact same goal as checking passengers as they exit the station. The only difference is that it doesn't treat customers as potential thieves because they haven't yet consumed the service.

 

I think the reliance on exactly when the fare check happens is beginning to border on the absurd.  Why is a check on the train not treating someone as a "potential thief" while checking someone as the exit is?  What is different about someone getting caught without a pass on the train versus someone getting caught exiting without a pass?  It seems the passenger has "consumed the service" if they are on the train.  Will the cops make them walk back to their station of entrance to "return the product?"  Of course not.  The distinction is silly.

 

Also, it's ridiculous claim that a pass check is treating someone as a "potential thief."  It's verification that you paid for a service, nothing more and nothing less - no one is being treated as a "potential thief."  I have been checked on and exiting transit systems in the US and in Europe, I've never seen anyone take the great offense being taken here.  By the same logic, we must rip out the exit turnstiles at Tower City because it's treating riders as "potential thieves," right?  As long as you are in a zone that requires a valid fare card, you must have one, the distinction is immaterial to the larger, annoying but lawful process.  It would be great to have entrance turnstiles at each RTA station to avoid this but as has been said before, funding is the very real barrier.

 

Also, what if RTA had a standardized language for conducting fare checks. How different would the outcome have been if it was standard procedure to tell passengers that aren't using a monthly pass, "Please hand me your RTA pass so that I can verify the time stamp." Here, the language is clear and concise what the passenger should do. "Show me your bus pass" is a vague order and it elicited a "smart aleck" response that ended up poorly. Had the initial order been clear and concise, would the outcome have been the same?

 

I've said before, not understanding that the pass check is a meant to verify your timestamp would really have to defy basic common sense.  Even by Ms. Ferrato's account, she understood that a valid pass was necessary - a large part of her story relied on her claim that her pass was activated and valid.  The only thing on the pass that shows that the pass is valid is the timestamp.  Which is stamped in small font on a small piece of paper.  If one understands this process, which Ms. Ferrato did, they must understand that the timestamp is the object being checked.  She was not arrested for a smart aleck response, she was arrested for evading the officer who wanted to see her pass with a timestamp, repeatedly, which she cannot claim she was ignorant of given her understanding of the larger validation process.

 

It's a good point that, moving forward, the police may want to use clearer language.  But vagueness and misunderstanding cannot be claimed here in this particular situation.

 

well their is a reason RTA didn't back their guy and defend him publicly for his response. Because he handled it wrong.

 

Exactly.  There is no video of the conclusion "incident" that we've seen.  Obviously RTA knows better than we do about what actually happened, otherwise they wouldn't be so quick to throw him under the bus (pun intended).

 

If this was a black woman, I could see their haste to go public to avoid Al Sharpton from descending on Cleveland.    But it was not, so their quick response tells even more.

"Escort her to the ground". I still can't get over that phrase. And multiple men with confusing police power piling on top of a woman late at night, and with her clothes pulled down. Unbelievable.

 

I've seen some customers exhibit horrible behavior on the trains and buses - loud music, swearing, n-words, threatening and intimidating passengers - and they're always left unscathed. But because she didn't show her pass in the right manner and was ornery, she gets traumatized and assaulted. Unbelievable. 

 

well their is a reason RTA didn't back their guy and defend him publicly for his response. Because he handled it wrong.

 

Exactly.  There is no video of the conclusion "incident" that we've seen.  Obviously RTA knows better than we do about what actually happened, otherwise they wouldn't be so quick to throw him under the bus (pun intended).

 

If this was a black woman, I could see their haste to go public to avoid Al Sharpton from descending on Cleveland.    But it was not, so their quick response tells even more.

 

Oh man, really?  By now we should know, any corporation or public agency facing unwanted attention deploys the exact same standard public relations playbook regardless the reality of the situation: 1. Draft and release diplomatic apology, 2. Tell the public that the incident is under review and the parties will be disciplined, 3. Stay silent until further info comes out.  Every group from Kraft to Delta Airlines to the Federal Government immediately apologizes and takes responsibility to diffuse the situation - regardless what really happened.  This stuff is a science by this point.  These organizations know that it is infinitely better to immediately minimize the situation than fight it head on and get turned into fodder for the media's next 10 cycles.

 

Whether the cop did or didn't do anything wrong, RTA's response can hardly be viewed as anything but standard PR procedure.  It's not evidence of anything.  It's just hot air.

"Escort her to the ground". I still can't get over that phrase. And multiple men with confusing police power piling on top of a woman late at night, and with her clothes pulled down. Unbelievable.

 

I've seen some customers exhibit horrible behavior on the trains and buses - loud music, swearing, n-words, threatening and intimidating passengers - and they're always left unscathed. But because she didn't show her pass in the right manner and was ornery, she gets traumatized and assaulted. Unbelievable. 

 

Where are you getting the "Escort her to the ground" phrase?  Frankly, I don't consider any of her story credible. 

Where are you getting the "Escort her to the ground" phrase?  Frankly, I don't consider any of her story credible.

Those are the suspended officer's words in his police report of the incident.

RTA disciplines officer accused of assaulting Lakewood woman

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/04/rta_disciplines_officer_accuse.html

 

 

RTA trolley fleet growing in advance of RNC convention

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/04/rta_trolley_fleet_growing_in_a.html

Shoot, just posted this in the Crime thread, but should have done it here.

 

Most interesting part:

 

[RTA police Chief] Joyce said Pacholke [the arresting officer in this case] breached departmental procedure by:

...

 

*Performing fare enforcement duties in a manner inconsistent with proper procedure by asking to inspect Ferrato's ticket in a vestibule, when fare inspections are required to be performed on trains and platforms.

...

 

Interesting. Apparently RTA agrees with some of the UO folks on this point.

 

Quite the slap on the wrist there.

Shoot, just posted this in the Crime thread, but should have done it here.

 

Most interesting part:

 

[RTA police Chief] Joyce said Pacholke [the arresting officer in this case] breached departmental procedure by:

...

 

*Performing fare enforcement duties in a manner inconsistent with proper procedure by asking to inspect Ferrato's ticket in a vestibule, when fare inspections are required to be performed on trains and platforms.

...

 

Interesting. Apparently RTA agrees with some of the UO folks on this point.

 

I had a feeling there was a specific manner that RTA wants fare cards checked and this is a good example of why.

Quite the slap on the wrist there.

 

The guy was almost fired. Hard to know what is truth when the woman's version was very much contradicted by the available video.

One thing that's missing in this very good debate and discussion (which I hope GCRTA management is reading!) is the concept of escalation. If a citizen escalates a confrontation, then it no longer becomes an issue of a $5 transit pass. It becomes whatever the citizen (or the officer, if he/she has responded inappropriately) has escalated it to. Police are trained to de-escalate confrontations by calming the citizen, which sometimes requires the use of force. The basic objective of policing is to protect peace and order, or to restore it when disturbed. If an officer's actions causes the opposite to happen then the officer acted inappropriately.

 

While I profoundly dislike the "random" fare check system and believe that manned/cameraed entry points are the best way to do things, this is a very good point.  I've asked earlier if we have any current or retired law enforcement on here.  If not, I may come as close as anyone.

 

Refusing to show me ID upon entry, hand over drinks at closing time, stay away from someone, or cease minor but annoying activity is a major escalation under even the best of circumstances.

 

well their is a reason RTA didn't back their guy and defend him publicly for his response. Because he handled it wrong.

 

Exactly.  There is no video of the conclusion "incident" that we've seen.  Obviously RTA knows better than we do about what actually happened, otherwise they wouldn't be so quick to throw him under the bus (pun intended).

 

If this was a black woman, I could see their haste to go public to avoid Al Sharpton from descending on Cleveland.    But it was not, so their quick response tells even more.

 

The irony is, based on her documented views she almost certainly believes there is such a thing as "white privilege".  Guess not.

Article about a financial analysis of the Twin Cities' transit POP system vs barriers. Despite the high cost of fare evasion, the cost of adding barriers is likely even more:

 

4/8/2015

Rail News: Passenger Rail

Fare evasions cost Metro Transit up to $28,000 a week

 

...Metro Transit's Blue and Green light-rail lines use barrier free stations and operate under a proof-of-payment system, meaning passengers must produce valid proof of fare purchase only upon request on trains and platforms. Passengers need not pass through a turnstile or show a conductor a ticket to ride.

 

"Often when transit agencies that operate proof-of-payment systems report their revenue lost due to fare evasion, there are calls for barriers to be put up at stations," the report said. "However, the very high cost of purchasing, installing and maintaining barriers isn't often worth the return in revenue, especially since barrier system still face fare evasion."

 

Added staff at ticket booths for each platform and having other on-site employees to assist passengers also factor into the overall cost of creating such barriers, the report said.

 

However, systems with barriers also are subject to fare evasion due to riders jumping turnstiles or using other ways to avoid buying a fare, the report noted.

 

MORE:

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/Fare-evasions-cost-Metro-Transit-up-to-28000-a-week--44082

Article about a financial analysis of the Twin Cities' transit POP system vs barriers. Despite the high cost of fare evasion, the cost of adding barriers is likely even more:

 

4/8/2015

Rail News: Passenger Rail

Fare evasions cost Metro Transit up to $28,000 a week

 

...Metro Transit's Blue and Green light-rail lines use barrier free stations and operate under a proof-of-payment system, meaning passengers must produce valid proof of fare purchase only upon request on trains and platforms. Passengers need not pass through a turnstile or show a conductor a ticket to ride.

 

"Often when transit agencies that operate proof-of-payment systems report their revenue lost due to fare evasion, there are calls for barriers to be put up at stations," the report said. "However, the very high cost of purchasing, installing and maintaining barriers isn't often worth the return in revenue, especially since barrier system still face fare evasion."

 

Added staff at ticket booths for each platform and having other on-site employees to assist passengers also factor into the overall cost of creating such barriers, the report said.

 

However, systems with barriers also are subject to fare evasion due to riders jumping turnstiles or using other ways to avoid buying a fare, the report noted.

 

MORE:

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/Fare-evasions-cost-Metro-Transit-up-to-28000-a-week--44082

 

I'm going to guess it also adds security, as potential criminals don't worry about paying fares.

 

well their is a reason RTA didn't back their guy and defend him publicly for his response. Because he handled it wrong.

 

Exactly.  There is no video of the conclusion "incident" that we've seen.  Obviously RTA knows better than we do about what actually happened, otherwise they wouldn't be so quick to throw him under the bus (pun intended).

 

If this was a black woman, I could see their haste to go public to avoid Al Sharpton from descending on Cleveland.    But it was not, so their quick response tells even more.

 

The irony is, based on her documented views she almost certainly believes there is such a thing as "white privilege".  Guess not.

 

Wow, really?  That's pretty serious.  Was it her "treating my like a criminal" comment?  Do tell...

 

well their is a reason RTA didn't back their guy and defend him publicly for his response. Because he handled it wrong.

 

Exactly.  There is no video of the conclusion "incident" that we've seen.  Obviously RTA knows better than we do about what actually happened, otherwise they wouldn't be so quick to throw him under the bus (pun intended).

 

If this was a black woman, I could see their haste to go public to avoid Al Sharpton from descending on Cleveland.    But it was not, so their quick response tells even more.

 

The irony is, based on her documented views she almost certainly believes there is such a thing as "white privilege".  Guess not.

 

Wow, really?  That's pretty serious.  Was it her "treating my like a criminal" comment?  Do tell...

 

No, someone pointed me to her Facebook page when I was defending her in another forum.

Man, some people really hate this lady.  She is definitely not a problem in society, let me assure everyone of that.  At her very worst, she got lippy with a cop after showing him her pass three different times.  That doesn't constitute takedown and GCRTA made that clear with the apology and the suspension.  Probably time to move on from this topic.  Those who want to hate on this woman will continue to do so and defend her treatment by the cop.

Some great comments made at the Stand Up For Transportation and Brookpark station groundbreaking events in NE Ohio today, as seen on Twitter....

 

@ArmondBudish "if we want to retain millennial talent & have job growth we must invest in #PublicTransit" #SU4T (Budish is Cuyahoga County executive)

 

CEO @GCRTA "We have 131 million in unmet capital needs, we have the oldest rail car fleet in the nation, that needs to be addressed" #SU4T

 

Rep @stephaniehowse says State of Ohio needs to allow for more flexibility w/public infrastructure funding #Su4T

 

Stand Up For Transportation at Tower City Center

 

Brookpark Station groundbreaking

 

RTA CEO Joe Calabrese pointing out need to replace tracks through Tower City station

 

RTA CEO Calabrese giving media, VIPS tour of needed rail improvements along Red Line

 

No, someone pointed me to her Facebook page when I was defending her in another forum.

 

I'll have to check out her Facebook page... I'll have considerably less sympathy for her if that's the case.  I'm no cheerleader for cops, but from the little evidence that I'm seen, she was pretty damn obnoxious and probably escalated the situation exponentially... Also, (and forgive me if it's been addressed; my eyes have glazed over with the 2, 3 solid weeks of posts on this one incident) ... what about her pulled-down-panties allegation?  She was silent on it in the TV interview I reviewed.  Is she sticking to this story or was it a lie ... in this case, a little white lie is probably apropos.

Man, some people really hate this lady.  She is definitely not a problem in society, let me assure everyone of that.  At her very worst, she got lippy with a cop after showing him her pass three different times.  That doesn't constitute takedown and GCRTA made that clear with the apology and the suspension.  Probably time to move on from this topic.  Those who want to hate on this woman will continue to do so and defend her treatment by the cop.

 

It's just amazing to me how unable or unwilling you are to analyze the facts and law in this situation.  It must just be too emotional for you I guess.  There are literally pages upon pages of substantive debate on this incident and you've reduced it, as you have since the beginning, into "people hate the lady," "she's not a problem in society," and whatever straw man nonsense you've put out there.  Wild.

Man, some people really hate this lady.  She is definitely not a problem in society, let me assure everyone of that.  At her very worst, she got lippy with a cop after showing him her pass three different times.  That doesn't constitute takedown and GCRTA made that clear with the apology and the suspension.  Probably time to move on from this topic.  Those who want to hate on this woman will continue to do so and defend her treatment by the cop.

 

No, I'm certainly not hating on this woman.  In fact, my initial reaction is sympathy for her because I don't like cops... I recognize most cops are decent people, but there's obviously a rouge element that tends to smear all cops with a bad name... I'm just trying to see both sides here.

^^^^ Wait, ... is that Joe C. actually riding the Rapid!? ... frame that puppy for posterity cause historians would never believe it.

Man, some people really hate this lady.  She is definitely not a problem in society, let me assure everyone of that.  At her very worst, she got lippy with a cop after showing him her pass three different times.  That doesn't constitute takedown and GCRTA made that clear with the apology and the suspension.  Probably time to move on from this topic.  Those who want to hate on this woman will continue to do so and defend her treatment by the cop.

 

It's just amazing to me how unable or unwilling you are to analyze the facts and law in this situation.  It must just be too emotional for you I guess.  There are literally pages upon pages of substantive debate on this incident and you've reduced it, as you have since the beginning, into "people hate the lady," "she's not a problem in society," and whatever straw man nonsense you've put out there.  Wild.

 

Huh? Well, Ive seen the video. Please tell me, other than some attitude... What exactly she did. And no, don't tell me that's grounds for taking her down.  I don't understand how if someone were a true professional, how THAT can be the result of THAT situation.

Man, some people really hate this lady.  She is definitely not a problem in society, let me assure everyone of that.  At her very worst, she got lippy with a cop after showing him her pass three different times.  That doesn't constitute takedown and GCRTA made that clear with the apology and the suspension.  Probably time to move on from this topic.  Those who want to hate on this woman will continue to do so and defend her treatment by the cop.

 

Saying she might have had some responsibility for what happened isn't hate.  I don't think anyone is saying she bears anywhere close to a majority of the fault.

^^^^ Wait, ... is that Joe C. actually riding the Rapid!? ... frame that puppy for posterity cause historians would never believe it.

 

Joe was really impressed a couple year ago when we had that 80-degree St. Patrick's Day and 500,000 people came downtown. Something like that is simply not possible without a rail system. He remembered that.

 

He also wasn't told until about a year or two ago that the Shaker trains aren't going to last much longer, despite the Breda/Blue-Green line car rehabs in 2006 (or the Tokyo/Red Line car rehabs now underway, although these cars can last longer). Now he realizes that replacement of the rail fleet is a priority.

 

And a little levity... :)

 

^ Fantastic picture. What's that from?

Huh? Well, Ive seen the video. Please tell me, other than some attitude... What exactly she did. And no, don't tell me that's grounds for taking her down.  I don't understand how if someone were a true professional, how THAT can be the result of THAT situation.

 

Exactly.  Seems to me there was some microphallic tendencies manifesting. 

Huh? Well, Ive seen the video. Please tell me, other than some attitude... What exactly she did. And no, don't tell me that's grounds for taking her down.  I don't understand how if someone were a true professional, how THAT can be the result of THAT situation.

 

Exactly.  Seems to me there was some microphallic tendencies manifesting.

 

Yup, that's it.  The cop has a small dick.  Case closed.  We really nailed it this time boys.  Nothing more to see here.  When can we meet up tackle the next issue troubling society?

Is it worth creating a new thread for this incident? Or moving the conversation to another thread?

^ Fantastic picture. What's that from?

 

A century-old Chicago, Aurora & Elgin interurban from the collection of the erstwhile Lake Shore Electric Railway which tried to raise funds for a streetcar and interurban museum on the lakefront. GCRTA ran this car and another (if I remember right) on the Waterfront Line in 2003 to raise publicity for their efforts. GCRTA spent $75,000 on that weekend to run the historic electric trains for the museum, and also stored their cars in the old Shaker Rapid station at Tower City until they found new temporary quarters at the port of Cleveland in 2007-09. But they needed funding in the hundreds of thousands or even millions. Sadly, there efforts were not successful. So the collection was sold off to museums around the country.

^ I sure miss LSER. I grew up in Olmsted Township, and I always enjoyed visiting Trolleyville when I was a kid. It was exciting to see the streetcars parked out in the strip mall along Columbia Road.

 

well their is a reason RTA didn't back their guy and defend him publicly for his response. Because he handled it wrong.

 

Exactly.  There is no video of the conclusion "incident" that we've seen.  Obviously RTA knows better than we do about what actually happened, otherwise they wouldn't be so quick to throw him under the bus (pun intended).

 

If this was a black woman, I could see their haste to go public to avoid Al Sharpton from descending on Cleveland.    But it was not, so their quick response tells even more.

 

The irony is, based on her documented views she almost certainly believes there is such a thing as "white privilege".  Guess not.

 

Wow, really?  That's pretty serious.  Was it her "treating my like a criminal" comment?  Do tell...

 

Follow-up. 

I just scanned Jessica Ferrato's Facebook page and, happily, she doesn't impress me as that kind of person at all; the exact opposite of a "white privilege" crybaby.  Much of her page is devoted to the Tamir Rice shooting plus issues involving the Sierra Club's fight against coal... she comes as pretty cool to me; my kinda girl --- er, lady.  That she was even on the Rapid to begin with -- in car crazy Cleveland -- says something positive about her as well ... at least, to me.  And she attended CIFF -- mainly cool people attend CIFF (yes, I'm biased!)...

 

... Seriously though, it all boils down to a terribly unfortunate situation that probably could have been handled better by both sides.  But, as a poster noted sever pages ago, it's the responsibility of the cop/RTA to tamp down and escalating situation... It's the same reason I felt the RTA bus driver who hauled off and slugged the spitting/out-of-control female passenger in Beachwood a few years ago, should have been fired (and was), and perhaps prosecuted for assault & battery.  There are certain protocols in dealing with the public and RTA failed in both instances.

 

Anyway, back to all issues transit.  This cop/woman situation is making my head hurt.

 

well their is a reason RTA didn't back their guy and defend him publicly for his response. Because he handled it wrong.

 

Exactly.  There is no video of the conclusion "incident" that we've seen.  Obviously RTA knows better than we do about what actually happened, otherwise they wouldn't be so quick to throw him under the bus (pun intended).

 

If this was a black woman, I could see their haste to go public to avoid Al Sharpton from descending on Cleveland.    But it was not, so their quick response tells even more.

 

The irony is, based on her documented views she almost certainly believes there is such a thing as "white privilege".  Guess not.

 

Wow, really?  That's pretty serious.  Was it her "treating my like a criminal" comment?  Do tell...

 

Follow-up. 

I just scanned Jessica Ferrato's Facebook page and, happily, she doesn't impress me as that kind of person at all; the exact opposite of a "white privilege" crybaby.  Much of her page is devoted to the Tamir Rice shooting plus issues involving the Sierra Club's fight against coal... she comes as pretty cool to me; my kinda girl --- er, lady.  That she was even on the Rapid to begin with -- in car crazy Cleveland -- says something positive about her as well ... at least, to me.  And she attended CIFF -- mainly cool people attend CIFF (yes, I'm biased!)...

 

... Seriously though, it all boils down to a terribly unfortunate situation that probably could have been handled better by both sides.  But, as a poster noted sever pages ago, it's the responsibility of the cop/RTA to tamp down and escalating situation... It's the same reason I felt the RTA bus driver who hauled off and slugged the spitting/out-of-control female passenger in Beachwood a few years ago, should have been fired (and was), and perhaps prosecuted for assault & battery.  There are certain protocols in dealing with the public and RTA failed in both instances.

 

Anyway, back to all issues transit.  This cop/woman situation is making my head hurt.

 

Just a clarification then I'll drop it, I meant I suspect she believes in the concept.  If she was relying on it, it was probably unconscious.   

 

The irony was what I was commenting on.

Is it worth creating a new thread for this incident? Or moving the conversation to another thread?

 

Or, forumers could consider - "just because I *can* post, does it always mean I *should*?"

So Joe C had a great stat today: Cleveland has the oldest operating rail fleet in the nation and needs federal funds to replace it. Proposals to eliminate federal funding for transit would destroy transit here and nationwide:

 

Elevator at RTA's West 25th rapid station to be back in service after 10 weeks

By Alison Grant, The Plain Dealer

Email the author | Follow on Twitter

on April 09, 2015 at 2:18 PM, updated April 09, 2015 at 3:09 PM

 

LEVELAND, Ohio -- The elevator at RTA's busy West 25th Street Red Line train station is expected to be back in action Friday.

 

A hydraulic leak that caused the elevator to stop working Jan. 30 created an oil buildup in the elevator shaft, and much of the elevator had to be rebuilt, an RTA spokesman said.

 

The repair by Kone Inc. took 10 weeks because parts couldn't be shipped until late March, RTA said. A note on RTA's Web site gave customers other options, and announcements were made on Red Line trips.

 

If customers weren't able to go up or down the 48 stairs at the West 25th station, and were able to get to adjacent stations, those have elevators -- the Lorain Rapid Station at West 65th Street and the Tower City Station.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/04/elevator_at_rtas_west_25th_rap.html

Elevator at RTA's West 25th rapid station to be back in service after 10 weeks

By Alison Grant, The Plain Dealer

Email the author | Follow on Twitter

on April 09, 2015 at 2:18 PM, updated April 09, 2015 at 3:09 PM

 

LEVELAND, Ohio -- The elevator at RTA's busy West 25th Street Red Line train station is expected to be back in action Friday.

 

 

 

Can we please give our town back the C???  :-o

Man, some people really hate this lady.  She is definitely not a problem in society, let me assure everyone of that.  At her very worst, she got lippy with a cop after showing him her pass three different times.  That doesn't constitute takedown and GCRTA made that clear with the apology and the suspension.  Probably time to move on from this topic.  Those who want to hate on this woman will continue to do so and defend her treatment by the cop.

 

One need not agree with her views, attitude, or behavior, to understand that the cop's behavior was reprehensible, unjust, criminal, and far out of proportion to her, at most, VERY minor offense of not stopping to show her fare card; especially if she was asked to do so in a location (outside the proof-of-payment zone) in which she was not required to do so in the first place. 

No, one just needs to swallow her story hook, line, and sinker even though the video we do have doesn't really support her story.

No, one just needs to swallow her story hook, line, and sinker even though the video we do have doesn't really support her story.

 

We haven't seen the video of entire incident because none exists.

^ I haven't posted on this topic in three weeks...yet I'm the one beating a dead horse?

 

Good day sir!

(bitchy, English accent lol)

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/04/alice_cooper_tina_turner_opera.html#incart_river