[PRCo] Re: Tragedy/Question To The List

[HRBran99 at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/12/01 1:12:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
bobrathke at home.com writes:


> Yesterday (Tuesday) in downtown Chicago, the tall, major, public and
> government  buildings were evacuated and closed.  By Noon, most workers
> downtown had left to go home.  CTA and Metra trains were running on schedule
> to get the people out of downtown, but the CTA Blue Line terminated at
> Rosemont, and still does not go into O'Hare Airport.
> 
> 

Thanks for all the replies to my post. This, of course, is not PRCo material, 
however, the reason I wanted to know is because of how strange the past two 
days have been here in Cleveland. This is a long explanation, so read on if 
you really want to.

The post by Bob in Chicago is almost what happened here in Cleveland 
yesterday. While watching the events unfold on live TV I was telephoned by 
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) and told to report to 
work immediately. This was at 11:00 AM. My normal report time is 12:34 PM. I 
had been watching a news briefing from Cleveland City Hall by Mayor Michael 
White and just after GCRTA called the mayor indicated that he had ordered the 
evacuation of downtown Cleveland, closing of all educational facilities, all 
public buildings, all museums and the entire Tower City Center complex, and 
had ordered implementation of the city emergency plan. Note that this plan is 
put into effect only when a dire situation exists. The mayor then went on to 
say that he had ordered the GCRTA (and the two intercity transit authorities, 
Akron Metro and Laketran) to begin rush hour bus and rail service at 11:00 AM 
and the recall of ALL bus and rail operators and supervisors. Also a parking 
ban on all downtown streets was in effect and police and tow trucks were 
standing by to remove any vehicle not in compliance.  

When I began my run on the 81-Scranton/Dennison/West Blvd. Rapid Stn route 
and entered downtown to find it looked like martial law had been declared. 
City police, Federal police, FBI and even suburban police were everywhere. 
Unmarked trucks (such as Pensky, Ryder, etc.) were being pulled over and 
searched. Even buses could only dwell for a short period at each bus stop. I 
stopped mid-block, not at a bus stop, to wait for a customer signaling that 
she wanted the bus and within 30 seconds two police cars and four guys in 
suits and sunglasses in a plain car were at the side of the bus wanting to 
know why I had stopped. This was in the Justice Center/Civic Center area. 
Downtown was empty by 1:30 PM.

The west end of the Red Line heavy rail service was operating from Brookpark 
Stn (one station short of the Airport station) eastbound to W. 25/Lorain Stn 
and shuttled back and forth between these points. The east end of the Red 
Line and the Green and Blue Lines (light rail) operated from E. 55 Stn to 
their outer ends. The Waterfront light rail line was suspended. There was no 
through rail service or Airport service. The shut down section operates in 
what appears to be a subway through the downtown, however, one is merely 
riding through the basement of the Tower City Center complex.

Today, educational facilities (all schools, universities, etc.) remain closed 
and many downtown buildings are still closed. The parking ban remains in 
effect. The city fire department, according to the evening news, responded to 
thirty bomb threats in the downtown today. I saw three incidents where trucks 
were stopped in the downtown, surrounded by police, drivers handcuffed, and 
the trucks being searched.

Another news conference by Mayor White today where it stated that the 
closings will remain in effect at least until Sunday. Reporters twice asked 
the mayor why Cleveland had taken such major actions and twice the mayor 
replied that, "Security concerns will not allow me answer that question."

Also of note is that gasoline prices rose from $1.85.9 (average for premium 
grade) to anywhere from $3.50.9 to $5.00.9 overnight. They mayor then placed 
an emergency ordinance into effect which prohibits excessive prices on needed 
items, gasoline being one of the needed items.

I am still mystified and concerned as to why Cleveland is still in 
"emergency" mode and have not a clue.

HrB