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Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say |
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Posted by streetcarman1 on Thu Nov 19 15:37:09 2009 From today's NYTIMES.com:I guess their are men out there who still have little or no respect for women..... November 19, 2009, 11:50 am Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say By JENNIFER 8. LEE Updated, 1:25 p.m. | The peak times in which women report sexual harassment or assaults on the subways are the late morning rush, roughly 8 to 10 a.m., followed by the early afternoon rush, 4 to 6 p.m. One stretch of the subways — the crowded Nos. 4, 5 and 6 lines between Grand Central Terminal and Union Square — is a particular source of complaints. And the average age of the men arrested for sexual offenses on the subways is 39. These facts emerged on Thursday during a joint City Council hearing at which three committees — on transportation, women’s issues and public safety — summoned officials from the Police Department and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to discuss a pervasive problem that strikes a chord with many subway riders, who say they have been ogled, groped, flashed, harassed and even attacked. “There is a clamor for more prevention and more enforcement,” said Councilman John C. Liu, a Queens Democrat who is chairman of the Transportation Committee and the city’s comptroller-elect. Darlene Mealy, a Brooklyn Democrat who is chairwoman of the Women’s Issues Committee, said that sexual harassment and assaults were very serious, and that society should “not take them as social behaviors that have to be condoned.” First to testify on Thursday was James P. Hall, chief of the Police Department’s Transit Bureau, who said that sexual harassment was the “No. 1 quality of life offense on the subway.” Chief Hall reported that as of Nov. 15, there had been 587 reports of sex offenses in the subway system this year. “However, we strongly suspect this is a highly underreported crime,” he said. The police have arrested 412 people for sex offenses in the subway so far this year. Of that number, 71 had committed prior sexual offenses and 14 were registered sex offenders. Five of the 14 were the most serious level of sex offender, Level 3. The average perpetrator is a 39-year-old male, while the vast majority of victims are females over 17 years old. “It’s a crime that goes more to a middle-aged individual,” Chief Hall said. In contrast, other crimes in the subway generally involve younger men, from 17 to 25 years old, he said. Chief Hall said the police started a campaign against subway sexual harassment in 2006 called Operation Exposure, which involves undercover officers going out numerous times a month. One sweep by the unit, on Nov. 5, resulted in five arrests, he said. The police also have developed a protocol to receive cellphone pictures from victims, which can then be sent to officers who are investigating, Chief Hall said. During the questioning, Mr. Liu cut into Chief Hall for calling sexual harassment a quality of life issue. “It’s an issue of safety, safety of women in the subway,” he said. Mr. Liu also raised the question of investing more resources to combat the problem. “These enforcement actions on the part of the N.Y.P.D. are somewhat random, because they are limited in terms of resources.” Lois H. Tendler, the director of government and community relations at the transportation authority, began her testimony by unwrapping a long, brown package, which turned out to be an advertisement encouraging victims to report sexual harassment on the trains. When it comes to combating sexual harassment of riders, she said, the authority serves in a support role to the police. The authority last year started a public awareness campaign against sexual harassment that included ads, printed brochures and on-board announcements (”A crowded subway car is no defense to unlawful sexual conduct”) — an idea, Ms. Tendler said, that came from Councilman Peter F. Vallone Jr., a Queens Democrat and the chairman of the Council’s Public Safety Committee. New York City Transit started using this advertisement last year as part of its SubTalk series of public service announcements. The advertising campaign ran for three months in 2008 and is scheduled to run through January 2010, Ms. Tendler said. The on-board announcements, which have been running for six months, are recorded in newer trains but are read in the older trains. The message tells riders: “A crowded train is no excuse for an improper touch. Don’t stand for it, feel ashamed or be afraid to speak up.” Councilwoman Helen Sears, a Queens Democrat, questioned how effective the public announcements were, especially given the aging sound system. “They are not supposed to be a periodic thing,” she said. “I don’t think they should be an afterthought. They should be as constant on that tape when there is a delay.” Ms. Tendler said that they were part of a constant loop of recording on the new trains, which run on about one-third of the subway lines. However, other lawmakers asked whether the messages were being read manually on the older trains. One asked why the hot line number for reporting the harassment is (212) 267-RAPE, which might discourage women who have been harassed, but not assaulted, from calling. Ms. Tendler said that was the general police sexual crime number. Mr. Liu also questioned the state of the installation of cameras, which he believed would deter crimes and help catch offenders. Ms. Tendler said cameras were being installed under different programs. “We’re making progress,” she said. Mr. Liu indicated he was not impressed. Mr. Vallone suggested proposed a “wall of shame,” comprising photos of those convicted of sex offenses on the subway. And Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras, a Queens Democrat, suggested that informational pamphlets on subway harassment should be given out at schools, perhaps along with train and bus passes. In recent months, advocates have formed a new organization to fight subway sexual harassment, New Yorkers for Safe Transit, that arose out of a loose coalition of groups involved in a report by the Manhattan borough president’s report in 2007. (The report was based on a nonscientific survey that asked riders whether they had been harassed.) The advocates are supporting a bill, introduced this week by Councilwoman Jessica S. Lappin, a Manhattan Democrat, that would require the police to collect data on sexual harassment in the subways. “This is important because historically, harassment is overlooked by law enforcement authorities,” said Oraia Reid, one of the founding members of New Yorkers for Safe Transit, who testified at the hearing. “To require them to report on and release data on sexual harassment will serve many functions.” Ms. Reid, who is also the executive director of RightRides for Women’s Safety, said another challenge was to get law enforcement to take the harassment more seriously. In August, she was walking up the stairs in the West Fourth Street subway station when a man walked down past her and grabbed her buttocks. “I started yelling at him,” she said. The man ran off. Ms. Reid said she spent 20 minutes to find someone so she could report the incident. “It was an N.Y.P.D. officer, he looked me in the eye and was like, ‘What do you want me to about this? This person is long gone,’” she recounted. “I insisted on filling on a report and the officer basically told me I was wasting his time.” She added, “It’s actually been very disempowering to report sexual harassment and assault.” Public education should be targeted not only at victims, but also at the general public, specifically encouraging bystanders and witnesses. “The victim is feeling very alone,” said Meghan Huppuch, the director of community organizing at Girls for Gender Equity, who testified at the hearing. A person who speaks up, Ms. Huppuch said, “is not only letting them know you are there, but also calling attention to this person, letting them know you’ve seen them.” |
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Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say |
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Posted by GIS Man on Thu Nov 19 16:07:15 2009, in response to Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say, posted by streetcarman1 on Thu Nov 19 15:37:09 2009. I would vote for "howling babies", more specifically their parents/guardians who don't attempt to do anything about it.Bob |
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Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say |
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Posted by Hank Eisenstein on Thu Nov 19 16:17:16 2009, in response to Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say, posted by GIS Man on Thu Nov 19 16:07:15 2009. You don't have kids, do you? |
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Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say |
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Posted by Easy on Thu Nov 19 16:29:29 2009, in response to Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say, posted by streetcarman1 on Thu Nov 19 15:37:09 2009. I can see this. There was an similar article for LA a couple of years ago that opened my eyes. The large majority of these crimes are never even reported. Many women stopped riding buses and trains because of this. I see lots of pervs on the trains and I completely understand why many women don't like to sit next to men that they don't know. |
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Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say |
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Posted by streetcarman1 on Thu Nov 19 16:39:35 2009, in response to Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say, posted by GIS Man on Thu Nov 19 16:07:15 2009. It shouldn't happen in the FIRST PLACE....men shouldn't be touching or anything else for that matter on the subway. |
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Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say |
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Posted by GIS Man on Mon Nov 23 11:36:55 2009, in response to Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say, posted by Hank Eisenstein on Thu Nov 19 16:17:16 2009. Nope, by mutual preference.Bob |
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Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say |
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Posted by BrooklynBus on Tue Nov 24 09:15:06 2009, in response to Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say, posted by streetcarman1 on Thu Nov 19 15:37:09 2009. One of the funniest experiences I've ever had in the subway regarding this subject happened many years ago on a crowded F train around Smith-9th Streets. There was a young woman either of high school or college age cracking one joke after another with her friends. Then all of a sudden she blurts out that she wishes the gentleman behind her would stop poking her in the ass with his umbrella. Then after a Jack Benny-like pause, she continues very slowly: "Well, I sure hope that it is his umbrella. That is your umbrella isn't it?". At that point all eyes stared at the young man right behind her and his face turned bright red. I've always wondered if she grew up to be a comedienne. She was a natural. |
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Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say |
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Posted by Train Man Paul : Metro-North's Best Conductor FOR ALL 3 LINES!!! on Tue Nov 24 09:35:34 2009, in response to Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say, posted by BrooklynBus on Tue Nov 24 09:15:06 2009. "That is your umbrella isn't it?"The way things have been lately with these sickos, probably not!! LMAO!! :-D Hell, I lost count how many times I have chased pervs off the train, btoh here on MNR and NYCT. In NYCT, seems the N, Q, E, and R trains are the most where I have dealt with that, and on MNR, once on the Harlem, and that guy was going upskirts, and several passengers indicated this, and he hauled @$$ off at Mount Vernon West (funnier more was that when the woman was informed of it, she seems pretty damn flattered as opposed to outraged!!), and there is a regular sicko on the NH Line who gets on at either NH or Bridgeport, and makes his presence known in the warm months, and he sits right next to the woman and does "his deeds". He flees every single time he has seen me, even before he even tries anything!! lol |
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Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say |
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Posted by Train Man Paul : Metro-North's Best Conductor FOR ALL 3 LINES!!! on Tue Nov 24 09:36:44 2009, in response to Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say, posted by streetcarman1 on Thu Nov 19 15:37:09 2009. I think it is an MTA thing period!! MNR and MTA Bus have more than a fare (oops), FAIR, share too. |
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Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say |
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Posted by Terrapin Station on Tue Nov 24 11:14:35 2009, in response to Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say, posted by Train Man Paul : Metro-North's Best Conductor FOR ALL 3 LINES!!! on Tue Nov 24 09:36:44 2009. LOL @ you thinking it's an MTA thing. It's a HUMAN (incorrect) thing. It likely happens all over the world on all transit systems and in all places with tight quarters. |
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Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say |
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Posted by BrooklynBus on Tue Nov 24 20:52:19 2009, in response to Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say, posted by Train Man Paul : Metro-North's Best Conductor FOR ALL 3 LINES!!! on Tue Nov 24 09:35:34 2009. The kid I saw was innocent though. He was just too embarassed. |
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Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say |
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Posted by BrooklynBus on Tue Nov 24 20:54:05 2009, in response to Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say, posted by Terrapin Station on Tue Nov 24 11:14:35 2009. Even in Israel? |
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Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say |
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Posted by Easy on Tue Nov 24 21:01:29 2009, in response to Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say, posted by Terrapin Station on Tue Nov 24 11:14:35 2009. Maybe he's right. It happens in Los Angeles and we have an MTA! Coincidence.....???? ;) |
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Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say |
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Posted by Terrapin Station on Tue Nov 24 21:09:04 2009, in response to Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say, posted by BrooklynBus on Tue Nov 24 20:54:05 2009. wtf? |
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Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say |
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Posted by Terrapin Station on Tue Nov 24 21:09:57 2009, in response to Re: Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say, posted by Easy on Tue Nov 24 21:01:29 2009. hahaha!paul? right? never! jealous probably, but never right! :) |
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