Asides

With the station agent cutbacks now in effect for three weeks, Michael Grynbaum of The Times hit the subways to pick up some anecdotal feedback about the impact of the cuts. The results are as we would imagine: Some people are concerned about safety; some people with big items can’t navigate the turnstiles and locked emergency exit gates; others — mostly non-English speaking tourists — are getting lost and cannot find anyone to give directions while snack vendors and newsstand workers are reluctantly turning into de facto station assistants. Still others are not bothered by the lack of station agents and note that life underground will continue as usual.

It is, of course, an interesting debate and one we’ve had on numerous occasions here. Yet, still the same questionable claims are being made. Norman Seabrook, an MTA Board member, heaves the terrorist argument. “We just witnessed a sleeper cell that was taken down for possibly contaminating the subway system,” he said to Grynbaum. “It’s imperative that we have as many eyes and ears as possible.” The NYPD and federal agents, though, intercepted this threat long before anyone working at a station booth could see something.

Earlier this week, Straphangers guru Gene Russianoff called upon Jay Walder to restore the agents. Walder though noted that with tough economic times and fare technology that no longer relies on someone selling tokens, the agents became expendable. Until the cash is there, the agents will not be. In the end, I am left where I always am. In cases of crime, the station agents have a duty to call for help but no legal duty to interfere. Their mere presence can do serve a deterrent purpose, and they do serve a customer assistance and relations purpose. Although many station agents knew little to nothing about the neighborhood above them, people often need the help to navigate around or into and out of the system. To miss them or not, the debate continues.