Weekend Diversion: Night Of The Ponies
Pedway, First Store Open At Block 37
Around Town
Around Town
Red-Light Cameras Not So Special?
I have to be at work at 4am, and early commuters get to see a whole different, much emptier side of the city that most (sober) people rarely experience. Most of the time, it's quiet, save for the few occasional drunks. At most, the worst part about the commute is the smell that permeates the two-car Red Line train at 3:25 in the morning. But sometimes things do get scary—and dangerous. If they're around, this is where members of the Guardian Angels step in.
Originally organized in NYC in 1979, members keep an eye out for trouble on trains and buses, and make citizens arrests where necessary. They train for three months, to make sure they stay within the confines of the law, and are unarmed. And in the past 18 months or so, they've started using video cameras and posting their "patrols" online.
The Bright One reports that contrary to early New York response to the Angels, Chicago police and CTA officials tend to approve of the non-profit international group. And while the Guardian Angels are not making the big busts—the S-T said they stopped a cell phone thief, a guy carrying a couple knives (which we weren't aware was actually a crime), and a few fights—there's no way of knowing how much their presence prevents people from doing things they otherwise might think they could get away with.
So is this really necessary in Chicago? Have you ever even seen a group of Guardian Angels? Even if you don't like the idea of vigilante justice whatsoever, when you're on a late-night trek across the city and there's a group of shifty-looking characters wondering if you'll put up much of a fight if they decide they want your wallet and your iPod, we're sure that red beret looks a lot less goofy. And despite the overblown tough-guy Brooklyn mook-ness of their founder Curtis Sliwa as well as the unavoidable paramilitary overtones of the Angels, it's hard to imagine that it's a bad thing for citizens to get involved in keeping their city (and its transit systems) safe.
Video from 3RDRAIL1988. Other Angel-related video is online from user Collegeiskilli
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
All this does is remind me that there are two new episodes of "Its Alwasy Sunny In Philadelphia" premiering this week. . and this makes me really happy. Outfits are the same to a T. . .hmmmmm.
I don't like vigilante justice or the mob mentality, nor anyone who is a wanna-be Batman, but I wish more citizens would take it upon themselves to, at the least, watch out for other, weaker citizens in potentially dangerous situations. A few well placed stares, or an indication that people will fight back, do actually deter some would-be criminals. And an alert attitude makes it harder for pickpockets and the like.
If the Angels do such things, and I've yet to see evidence to the contrary, then I thank them for a job well done.
i remember these guys in the 1980's - back when shit was seriously seriously fucked up out here.
I don't know if they did anything other than get themselves into precarious situations.
I was shocked to see them on the train - it's been a couple times now - but as long as they aren't abusive and racist in their actions I'm thrilled to have them.
Even if you don't travel in the wee hours and/or alone being a lady on the train can absolutely suck. Not that it's the threat of physical violence, but just the atmosphere of being ogled or bothered with come-ons when you're just trying to get where you're going. To say nothing of guys exposing themselves or masturbating on the train.
Usually it's the intoxicated who feel entitled to behave this way, but it's no excuse and doesn't make the situation any lighter or funnier. Perhaps this group will inhibit such behavior.
I'd make a donation to them if they do cut down on generaly creepiness caused by certain men on the CTA.
i second what Dig said. i used to ride the Red Line at 6 am for work. nothing ever happened, but i was always wary that something would...and i wouldn't have known what to do if it had. (don't try to diagram that sentence; you'll get a headache.)
Um... anyone else bothered that it took the cops that long to respond?
The whole Guardian Angels thing is about being a "presence". They've moved more towards documenting things with video in recent years.
They're still crazy and more than a few of them are ultra right-wing cop-wannabes who never became police officers for various, often very good, reasons.
Curtis Sliwa is a nutter to end all nutters. I heard this guy go on a tear about how he wanted to "exsanguinate" some criminal. He kept using the word over and over, and I don't think he knew what it meant.
I've seen these guys for years. I've always appreciated their presence.